Jakarta – A clash between striking workers and members of the Pemuda Pancasila (PP) youth organization has broken out in front of the PT Schneider factory in the Cikarang industrial area, West Java.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that the clash happened when the workers rejected PP members' demands to end the strike.

"They [PP members] said that the workers' aspiration for a monthly wage of Rp 3.7 million [US$333] was irrational and that it would cause huge lay-offs. As a result, they would also lose their livelihoods from recycling factory waste or selling food to workers," Rikwanto said on Thursday.

He said that eight people – four factory workers and four security guards- were injured in the clash. "One of them was stabbed. He is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

Rikwanto said that according to police estimates, there were at least 15,000 strikers and 5,000 PP members. "Fortunately, we have successfully prevented the clash from spreading to other areas," he said. He added that the police had deployed 17,276 personnel across the Greater Jakarta area, 4,000 of whom were deployed to the Bekasi and Cikarang areas. (koi)