British trade unions in solidarity

As the campaign in solidarity with the Indonesian democracy movement prepares for the October 28 international day of protest for human rights in Indonesia, British trade unions have decided to organise a protest outside the Indonesian Embassy on September 26.

In a letter to the British paper Morning Star on September 23, 10 influential leaders of the trade union movement condemned the charges against trade union leaders Muchtar Pakpahan and Dita Sari as trumped up.

"All objective observers accept that the charges have been trumped up as part of the military-dominated government's attempt to stamp out pro-democracy activities following the government-organised ousting from office of the main opposition party leader Megawati Sukarnoputri in July", said the letter. "In reality, Mr Pakpahan's and Ms Sari's only `crime' has been to successfully organise independent trade unions in a country where the only unions allowed by law are those sanctioned by the government."

The letter was signed by: John Monks, TUC general secretary; Rodney Bickerstaffe, UNISON (all local government and government employees); general secretary Bill Brett, Institute for Personnel Managers; general secretary George Brumwell, UCATT (communication workers); general secretary Ken Cameron, Fire Brigades Union; general secretary Peter Donnellan, Post and Telecommunication; general secretary John Edmonds, General, Municipal and Boilermakers; general secretary John Lyons, Manufacturing, Science and Finance; general secretary Bill Morris, Transport and General Workers Union; general secretary Arthur Scargill, NUM (miners); general secretary John Hendy, International Centre for Trade Union Rights.

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