Students and farmers join May Day action in Purwokerto

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

Fajar Eko Nugroho, Banyumas – Apparently International Labour Day 2014 is not just being commemorated by workers in different regions of Indonesia.

Students and farmers also joined the ranks of protesters commemorating the workers' struggle to win an eight-hour day at the beginning of the 19 Century. This is what was done by hundreds of students and farmers from Banyumas People's Struggle Front (FPR) in Central Java on Thursday May 1.

The FPR is an alliance made up of the National Student Front (FMN), the Banyumas Farmers Association (PPB), the Ampera State Accountancy College (Stan Ampera), the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII), the Purwokerto Muhammadiyah University Student Executive Council (BEM UMP), the State College of Islamic Religious Studies (STAIN), the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), the University of Soedirman Student Executive Council (BEM UNSOED), the Kathoza Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI Kathoza), the Islamic Students Association Faculty of Social and Political Science Commissariat (HMI Komisariat Fisip) and the Indonesian Students Association Organisational Saviours Council (HPI MPO).

Prior to holding the action at the Purwokerto square, the protesters held a long-march through Jl. Jenderal Soedirman demanding that the local government provide basic rights to the people, particularly farmers and workers.

"We demand that the Banyumas regent increase workers wages. We also call on the Banyumas regent to revoke the business permit for PT Rumpun Sari Antan Darmakradenan which has forcibly seized agricultural land from farmers", said FPR coordinator during the action.

Source: http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2014/05/01/petani-fpr-banyumas-ikut-aksi-may-day-di-alun-alun-purwokerto.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]