Jakarta – Police should remain neutral at all times in disputes between employers and workers, a coalition of workers' associations has demanded.
"We feel the police often take the side of employers in disputes between employers and their workers," coordinator of the coalition, Anwar Sastro, told reporters during a rally last week.
He said police often deployed an unnecessarily large number of personnel to oversee workers' demonstrations, who often abused their powers by arresting workers solely on the basis of reports made by employers. "On the other hand, they do nothing when we make similar complaints about employers," Anwar said.
At the rally, the coalition also demanded the National Police headquarters withdraw personnel currently deployed at several factories around Greater Jakarta.
Anwar said workers' associations have long suspected money in the form of bribes is behind the actions of police in such situations.
Earlier this month, more than 100 police officers secured PT Master Steel and PT Pangeran Karang Murni after the joint management of the steel smelting companies laid off 2,100 workers.
The vice chairman of the workers' union of the companies, Sumardianto, said he was not expecting truckloads of police to arrive when it came to negotiating with the management.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto denied that bribery was involved in the handling of industrial disputes.
"We don't take sides. Our main objective is to anticipate anything that could possibly harm public order and safety." He said that the arrest of workers was often due to the fact they overlooked laws stipulating that demonstrations must be reported to police.
"They should not blame the police for stopping unreported rallies. They should also not oppose police attending rallies to ensure public safety is maintained," Sisno said.
The 1998 Freedom of Speech Law stipulates that individuals or groups intending to hold a rally in a public place must inform police at least three days beforehand.
The law also states that police have the right to end mass demonstrations if it is in the best interests of public safety.
The law was passed after a series of mass rallies between 1996 and 1998 which led to the fall of former president Soeharto.