By Alex Harmoko in Jakarta
and Max Lane
Tension has spread in Jakarta in the wake of six days of demonstrations and rioting by angry factory workers from the industrial estates around Sumatra's largest city, Medan. In Jakarta, rumours spread of civil disturbances in some quarters of the city, with many reports of luxury cars being attacked.
One newspaper, Republika, announced that the military had declared an evening curfew for young people. Army spokespersons later angrily denied this on television.
Jakarta journalists have been receiving assessments by "Western diplomats" of a change in the presidency before June.
The demonstrations began on April 14, when 25,000 workers rallied in Medan's main square after marching in from the industrial estate 10 km outside the city. They were demanding a rise in wages to Rp 7000 ($4.50) per day in accord with new official minimum wage rates.
They also demanded repeal of a Ministry of Labour regulation which reaffirms the status of the SPSI (All Indonesia Workers Union) as the only permissible labour union. The SPSI is controlled by the Ministry of Manpower and has come under attack for being a tool of the government and employers.
The workers were also protesting against the police killing of Rusli, a rubber worker, at a March 11 demonstration against low wages.
There have been increasing strikes and protest actions in Indonesia over the last 12 months. Fifteen thousand workers rallied against labour minister and textiles millionaire Abdul Latief in the central Javanese city of Solo on February 15. Rallies of several thousand striking workers followed in Bandung and Jakarta.
To try to stave off the increasing militancy, the government has been raising official minimum wages. In many cases, companies are not implementing this policy and are being supported by the civil and military authorities on the ground.
In Medan, workers in 42 factories continued to receive below minimum wages. After assembling in the main square in Medan, they demanded to see the governor, Raja Inal Siregar, as had been promised. However, the governor refused to meet them.
Later, representatives of the workers did meet officials from the security body BAKORSTANAS, the Labour Ministry and Ministry of Social Affairs. There was no clear outcome, but the workers left the city for the outlying areas.
Although the workers had been promised a meeting with the governor the following day, by the morning of April 15 the army and police had cordoned off most of Medan to prevent workers returning to the city. Soldiers and police were stationed throughout Medan.
Despite this, 25,000 workers managed to re-enter the city by 10.00am. Tension rose between the workers and the soldiers. Stone throwing was met with tear gas and a violent dispersal of the rally.
As word spread of the troubles, demonstrations and clashes began to take place at the Medan Industrial Estate. Running clashes continued throughout the night, with angry workers and other city dwellers burning cars and smashing shops selling expensive consumer goods.
One businessman was dragged from his car and killed.
On April 16 the strikes spread to the region's second largest city, Pemantar Sinatar, and to Belawan. The main road between Belawan and Medan was still said not to be completely safe as late as April 20, as smaller rallies and strikes continue in these cities.
Green Left Weekly's Jakarta sources report that 114 people have been arrested. Apart from arrests during demonstrations, the military has been hunting out activists.
Worker groups involved in the protests include the recently formed SBSI (All Indonesia Workers for Prosperity Union), led by Muhtar Pakpahan. Many workers carried banners supporting the SBSI.
The SBSI recently increased its national profile by calling for a general strike. Although the call was not a major success, it brought the SBSI to many workers' attention. Pakpahan is from the Batak ethnic group, which is based in north Sumatra.
Riswan Lubis, the deputy head of SBSI in Medan, was reported arrested at his home. Four other SBSI leaders have also been arrested, and other local leaders are being hunted.
The Medan head of SBSI, Amosi Talambanua, had been arrested and tortured in a June 1993 incident. Muhtar Pakpahan is awaiting trial in Jakarta on charges laid after he made his February call for a general strike.
Batak language leaflets are being distributed calling Pakpahan, a well-known church figure, a communist. Activists from other groups supporting workers in Medan are also being sought.
As of April 20, 1000 troops were still deployed in Medan. Many factories remain closed. Shops are only just beginning to open.
The unrest in north Sumatra has encouraged further activities in Java, with 3000 workers striking and protesting on local wages issues in the large city of Semarang. There are also reports of impending student protests.
There has been an attempt to portray the strikes and protests as racially motivated against the small Chinese population. Many factory owners in the industrial estate area are Indonesian Chinese.
However, the racial element seems to have arisen only on the second or third day, when anti-Chinese leaflets started to appear. These leaflets do not bear the name of any issuing organisation.
SBSI and human rights figures have alleged that plain-clothes soldiers started the rioting by throwing stones at soldiers and shops. Journalists present have told Green Left that workers were arrested by men in plain clothes who had previously joined in the rioting.