Striking Indonesians jailed and beaten
By Colin Pemul
MEDAN — The obstacles which Indonesian workers face in defending their wages and conditions are revealed by events at three factories here earlier this year.
The factories, Sanjo Brake Industries, Medan Canning and Frozen Industries, and P.T. Sumatera Rotanindo, are all notorious for their bad pay and conditions.
Strikes took place in January and February over issues which included payment under the minimum wage of Rp1930 (US$1) per day; forced overtime without extra pay; no holidays; arbitrary sackings; poor health and safety conditions; refusal to pay compensation for accidents.
As well as the strikes, there were protests at the office of the government union, the SPSE. During the protests, up to 30 workers were taken away by the military and police for interrogation and intimidation. Workers were accused of stealing, sacked and suspended without pay.
One of the workers, Herwin described his treatment during eight days' detention.
All the time he was held, his family wasn't informed by the police or military. Herwin was taken to military headquarters in Medan, where he was savagely beaten. As he was being kicked in the head and stomach, the officer told him, "There is no law here, only jungle law!"
After the beatings, they shaved off all his hair and forced him to eat money. After this he was given chores to do: cleaning the floor, toilets, military cars. At night time he was placed in a cell with no window and which was too small to lie down in.
Later he was transferred to another department of the military, where he was forced to take off his clothes and submerge himself in an open sewage channel.
Herwin was arrested with five other people; they were accused of instigating the strikes. Despite their release in early March, Herwin thought that this was not the end of his persecution and feared for his life.