Khairul Ikhwan D/HD & HY, Medan – Around 300 workers of PT Cipta Prima staged a demonstration at north Sumatra Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD Sumut) office, Monday. They demanded the DPRD Sumut be the mediator in resolving the problem between them and PT Cipta Prima.

Meanwhile, hundreds of farmers from Tani Wonorejo village, Bandar Pulau, Asahan, Medan also staged demonstrations demanding the return of their land from an oil palm company, PT Gunung Melayu.

Starting from their office on Jl PLTU, Pulo Sicanang, Belawan, the workers, who work in the timber industry, arrived at the DPRD's office located on Jl Imam Bonjol, Medan, north Sumatra by three buses. In their statement, they demanded a review of the working agreement and that the suspension of their colleague to be lifted.

They brought several banners. "We demand a review of the working agreement," said Ali Imron, coordinator of the action in his oration. Ali said that since August 2000, a normative agreement between the workers and the company, in place since the 1970's had suddenly stopped.

"By this demonstration, we demand the DPRD be mediator between the workers and the company. Besides mediating in regards to the working agreement, we also request the company lift our colleague's suspension, Hasudungan Siringo-ringo as the working unit head of All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI) in this company," Ali said to the press.

The workers, wearing their brown office uniforms sang songs and shouted their demands at the DPRD Sumut. When it began to rain, they moved into the building and joined hundreds of farmers who were also staging a demonstration there.

Those farmers, from Tani Wonorejo village, Bandar Pulau, Asahan, Medan, represented 200 head of families from their village. They demand some 700 hectares, taken by the palm oil company, PT Gunung Melayu, be returned to them.

Many women also took part in the demonstration. They threatened to stay overnight at DPRD if the members of the council do not help them get back their land. These are clearly not empty threats as they had brought along not only food and such provisions but also firewood and cooking utensils.

As reported, No DPRD representative had met with these demonstrators. The workers and farmers flooding the entrance of the building sang songs and yelled their demands to get the council members to come out and meet them.