Budi Sugiharto/Hendra & GB, Sidoarjo – Sidoarjo, Surabaya, East Java, was a hot-bed of destructive demonstrations after around 3,000 striking workers from Indonesian electrical goods producer PT Maspion were provoked by hired thugs at the factory and rioted. Later, making their way to the Regency's Council chambers, they came across over 100 rioting political party members destroying the Council's offices.

The 3,000 workers blocked the main roads near the PT Maspion Unit II, Jl Surabaya-Sidoarjo and Jl Raya Sidoarjo-Surabaya, at 10am local time Tuesday. On the street, workers were abused by many motorists caught up in the extensive traffic jam which developed.

The workers became enraged because the management of PT Maspion had hired tens of thugs to intimidate the protesters who continued their demonstration which began suddenly last week with a stop-work walkout. The thugs inside the factory grounds brought sickles and small blades and prevented the workers from entering the factory.

One worker was encircled by thugs who threatened him with their sickles. Seeing this provocative act, the workers took stones from the railway station located in front of the factory and threw them at the factory windows and offices.

Eventually entering the grounds after overwhelming the thugs, they burned down a security building, destroyed files in the building and damaged the security gate on the second floor of the main building at around 11.30am local time. One water cannon mounted on a police vehicle was seen ready in the vicinity of the factory.

As previously reported, PT Maspion's workers are demanding an increase their allowances from Rp 2,000 to Rp 3,000 (US33 cents) for food and from Rp 1,000 to Rp 2,000 for transportation. After meeting representatives of the workers last Wednesday, the company would only agree to an increase of Rp 300 (US3 cents). The workers are also demanding that 7 workers fired for organising the strike be reinstated.

After attacking the offices, the protesters made their way to the Sitoardjo Regency Legislative Assembly to demand the Councilors take up their plight with the factory management.

However, around 100 protesters from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) were already occupying the building protesting that eight of the seventeen party representatives had not voted for their candidates in a recent election. One of the eight earlier acknowledged that he had been paid Rp 10 million from Rp 200 million offered by the winning candidate. The protesters later destroyed the gate and threw stones at the building causing extensive damage to windows.

MA Mochtar, former representative of the state-controlled Indonesian Prosperous Labour Union (SBSI) appointed leader of the strike at PT Maspion, demanded that the domestic and international community not buy Maspion's products before the labour matter had been resolved.

He also said their demonstration would continue next Thursday, after a public holiday Wednesday, and that they would occupy the offices of the SBSI for failing to represent their interests.

"Next Thursday we will occupy SBSI's offices at PT Maspion so we can take down their name plate. It's time that the SBSI was disbanded totally," Mochtar said. He also regretted that the security forces at the factory did not arrest the thugs armed with their sickles.

Both demonstrations appeared to have broken up by themselves and it is uncertain if any of the protesters have been detained by the police.