Former workers of the Shangri-La hotel, Jakarta, have clashed with baton-wielding Indonesian police, after threatening to enter the hotel, which re-opened yesterday.

It was closed down on December 22 after workers, demanding higher wages, occupied the premises for six days. Yesterday's demonstrators were part of a group of 450 workers who were likely to be sacked. Of late, unions have been flexing their muscle after decades of Suharto-era curbs.