By Max Lane
On a historic occasion for the Indonesian labour movement, workers and students took to the streets to demonstrate on May Day for the first time since General Suharto seized power 30 years ago. The actions were initiated by the Centre for Indonesian Working Class Struggle (PPBI) and Students in Solidarity with Democracy in Indonesia (SMID).
The actions were aimed at re-establishing the May Day tradition, as well as launching a national campaign for an increase in the minimum wage from $3 a day to $4.50, a little closer to the figure needed to keep people alive and healthy.
The campaign is also demanding freedom to organise and the release of all political prisoners, including union leader Muchtar Pakpahan. In Jakarta, 100 workers and students formed a delegation to deliver their demands to the Ministry of Labour.
In the East Javanese city of Semarang, hundreds rallied under the PPBI-SMID banner. The rally was savagely attacked by the police and military. Sixteen workers and students were detained, including Lukman, the national director of PPBI, and Petrus Haryanto, secretary general of SMID. Several workers were severely beaten on the street.
In Jakarta, as the delegation peacefully left the Ministry of Labour, the military picked up Dita Sari, general secretary of PPBI. When it was discovered that Dita Sari was arrested, the workers tried to re-enter the ministry. Four other PPBI organisers were arrested in the ensuing fight.
On May 2, PPBI and SMID sent a delegation to the National Human Rights Commission to protest against the arrests and beatings. More protest demonstrations were held on campuses in Yogyakarta and Solo.
The next day, Dita Sari, Petrus Haryanto and the 19 other activists were released from jail. According to SMID president Munif Laredo, "The workers were very badly treated. They were savagely bashed; their heads were smashed up against the prison walls. At least one has been hospitalised in Semarang."
Solidarity and protest messages have been sent by Indonesia Solidarity Action — Aksi, Resistance, Community and Public Sector Union (ACT branch), Australian Electrical, Electronics, Foundry and Engineering Union (WA branch), the ACT Trades and Labour Council and United Workers of the Philippines.