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Union alleges ministry paid bribes to limit May Day protests
Jakarta Globe - April 28, 2011
Ronna Nirmala & Ulma Haryanto – Indonesian government officials have been accused of attempting to bribe workers planning to march in antigovernment protests on Labor Day.
Arief Poyuono, general chairman of the United Federation of Workers of State-Owned Enterprises, said he had laid a complaint with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) after Manpower and Transmigration Ministry officials allegedly gave each of 300 unionists Rp 110,000 ($13) and a hamper of food and cooking oil. Arief did not say who made the payments.
Present at the meeting were National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, who gave a speech during the meeting at the ministry on Tuesday, urging the workers to show restraint.
Arief said he believed the money and hampers were an attempt to prevent the trade unionists from marching in Sunday's rally. If the packages were legitimate bonuses, they would have been paid to all Indonesian workers, not just the 300 unionists who attended the meeting, he said.
"President SBY [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] has always been afraid that he will be overthrown by labor unions and is especially [afraid] of large-scale demonstrations." Arif said that approximately 7,000 laborers were expected to march on Sunday.
Police were forced to use water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters who march on the Presidential Palace to mark Labor Day last year.
KPK spokesman Johan Budi confirmed a complaint had been laid and said the antigraft agency needed to determine if the packages could be classified as a gratification.
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