Labour coordination posts attacked by thugs, workers assaulted

Berita Satu - October 29, 2012

Ronna Nirmala/Ratna Nuraini – Unidentified individuals have attacked at least 10 labour coordination posts. Workers wearing organisational identification have been assaulted and their uniforms stripped off.

The incident occurred the previous evening at at least 10 labour coordination posts at factories located in the industrial zones in Jababeka, Cikarang and Bekasi. The attackers are calling themselves the Bekasi United Social Forum (FMBB).

A gathering of Bekasi workers today strongly condemned the attacks that were carried out by groups of people suspected of being thugs. Bekasi Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) spokesperson Budi Wardoyo said that the attacks carried out since yesterday evening are suspected to have been don on the orders of particular parties. Not, he continued, on the group's own initiative.

"Earlier there was in fact a leaflet that was distributed containing threats against workers [warning them] not to hold anymore street protests, on the grounds that it disrupted local stability and security", said Wardoyo when contacted today. In concert with these attacks, said Wardoyo, several Bekasi investor forums visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry to request input on the recent protest actions by workers.

Not only did they pay a visit on the Ministry of Trade and Industry, but also the Indonesian military (TNI), in order to ask the TNI to secure these protest actions. "So we conceded that the attacks are a response to their requests to the parties concerned", continued Wardoyo.

Prior knowledge

Wardoyo has also accused security forces and the government of having prior knowledge of the attacks and choosing to allow them to occur without taking any preventative measures to protect the workers.

Wardoyo also explained that the attacks have actually been taking place since the previous evening. A group of people dressed up as thugs visited several labour coordination posts in Jababeka, Cikarang and Bekasi.

"The thugs began by conducting sweeps for workers at PT Samsung, several workers were sacked and one was also assaulted", added Wardoyo. "Not just content with that, the attackers also stripped the cloths from workers wearing labour forum uniforms".

Meanwhile the attackers, who call themselves the FMBB, according to Wardoyo, demanded that workers sign an agreement not to hold any more protest actions and agree to outsourcing employment systems.

So far Wardoyo has been reluctant to report the attacks to the authorities and has elected to collect data on workers who have fallen victim to the assaults. "We don't yet know exactly how many, later after all [the information] has been gathered we will make a report", he explained.

[Sejumlah Posko Buruh di Bekasi Diserang dan Diteror - Berita Satu. Senin, 29 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Four injured, 11 arrested after police fire on protesters in Manokwari

Berita Satu - October 23, 2012

Antara/Ratna Nuraini – A demonstration by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) that took place in Manokwari this morning ended in chaos. As a result of the incident, 11 people were taken away by the Manokwari district police.

The action by members of the KNPB, which was held to support a meeting of the International Parliament of West Papua (IPWP) in London, took place in the vicinity of Jl. Gunung Salju in front of the University of Papua in Amban, Manokwari. The action had been taking place since around 9am.

After giving speeches, the protesters who numbered around 100 planned to hold a long-march to the Borasi Square. But the plan was thwarted when they were blocked and forcibly disbursed by police.

As a result, the protesters became enraged and pelted security personnel with stones. In response, police fired warning shots resulting in four people being injured. In addition to the four who were inured, two police officers were injured after being hit by rocks.

When contacted by Berita Satu, Papuan regional police public relations chief Assistant Superintendent Gede Sumerta admitted that as many as 11 people are currently being detained by district police. They are FN, AW, OA, DA, ET, DM, KJ, PP, OM and AN.

In addition to questioning the 11, the police also confiscated four KNPB and United Nations flags as well as banners and pamphlets brought by the demonstrators. Sumerta said that they did not come across any Morning Star flags, either brought by the demonstrators or flown openly.

When asked about the four people hit by gunshots, Sumerta stated that they are yet to receive a report from the Manokwari district police. According to Sumerta, based on information received from an Indonesian Embassy staff member in London, Aris Nugroho, it turns out that there was no meeting that discussed Papua in the British parliament.

"So news that there were discussions about Papua are untrue", said Sumerta adding that according to Jayapura municipal police, no demonstrations supporting the IPWP in London took place in Jayapura.

Nevertheless, Jayapura police could be seen on guard in a number of places and had deployed Barracuda armoured vehicles in and around the Imbi area in Jayapura.

• A Metro TV video report of the clash can be viewed here: http://www.metrotvnews.com/read/newsvideo/2012/10/23/162405/Demo-Komite-Nasional-Papua-Barat-Berujung-Bentrok/6.

[Dukung Rapat Papua di London, 11 Demonstran Ditangkap di Manokwari - Beritasatu.com. Selasa, 23 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Papuans in Manado rally in support of IPWP meeting, independence

Kompas.com - October 23, 2012

Contributor Manado, Ronny Adolof Buol – As reported earlier, Papuans living in North Sulawesi, specifically those in Manado city held a protest action demanding justice for the Land of Papua on Tuesday October 23.

Although they were not joined by the thousands of people expected earlier, the demonstration by several hundred people managed to attract the attention of Manado residents because it passed through the main streets of the city.

The demonstrators began the action on the grounds of the Sam Ratulangi University (Unsrat) rectorate office then held a long-march towards the South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building. Throughout the march, the protesters called out their demands. "We demand justice for the Land of Papua. We want independence", shouted the demonstrators accompanied by their own unique singing.

In addition to demanding independence for Papua, the demonstrators who came from the North Sumatra Papuan Students, Youth and People's Solidarity (SPMPMP) also declared their support for the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) meeting in London.

"The IPWP [meeting] that is currently taking place in London, England, which is being attended by senior Papuan leaders, is endeavoring to urge the UN to acknowledge the Papuan nation's struggle", explained action coordinator Nenaluck.

The demonstrators also said that Papua needs a referendum in order that the Papuan people can determine the fate of their own nation. "The nation and motherland of Papua has been a sacrificial offering for the economic, political and dominating interests of Holland, America and Indonesia", shouted one of the protesters during a speech in front of the DPRD.

The demonstrators also conveyed their wishes on the grounds of the DPRD. "We hope that the South Sulawesi DPRD can accommodate our hopes and wishes. We have long experienced injustice. Regional autonomy has not provided an answer. We want independence", said Nenaluck.

A written statement and list of demands signed by various different student groups at the demonstration was handed over to the DPRD. DPRD Deputy Speaker Arthur Kotambunan who made time to receive the demonstrators explained that they accepted the protesters wishes.

"We accept the wishes of our sisters and brothers from Papua, and will try to convey these wishes to the national House of Representatives", Kotambunan told the protesters. The demonstration, which was closely watched over by police, proceeded in an orderly and peaceful manner, although it did create traffic congestion on several of the city's streets.

[Warga Papua di Manado Tuntut Papua Merdeka - Kompas.com. Selasa, 23 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Protesters condemn minister's statement blaming victims for being raped

Kompas.com - October 17, 2012

Riana Afifah, Jakarta – Following the offensive statement by the Minister for Education and Culture about a female high-school student victim of rape in Depok, namely ASS, the Women's Alliance Against Rape (APTP) held a protest action in front of the Department of Education offices on Wednesday October 17.

APTP member Dhyta Caturani said that the group is calling on Education Minister Mohammad Nuh to issue a new statement expressing his support for protecting teenage women from sexual violence and discrimination.

"Don't let there be any more talk that paints teenage women in a bad light because they become pregnant or because they become victims of rape", said Caturani, when sought out in front of the Education Ministry on Jl. Jendral Sudirman in Jakarta on Wednesday morning.

The group is also calling on the Education Minister as a public official that is responsible for education in Indonesia to take the case seriously. Moreover in the changes to the education curriculum that are currently being discussed should included sex and reproductive health education for teenagers.

"This is important so teenagers can avoid sexual violence such as rape, sexual harassment and [so they have] knowledge about [their] bodies and sexuality", said Caturani.

Caturani added that in order that there is no repeat of this, they are also demanding that the Education Minster reprimand schools that commit acts of discrimination without caring about the rights of victims.

The demonstration by scores of women is continuing although the flow of traffic on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman has not been disrupted and is moving smoothly.

[Perempuan Unjuk Rasa, Protes Pernyataan Mendikbud - Kompas.com. Rabu, 17 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]