Association asks police to investigate foreign labor activists

The East Kalimantan branch of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) called on the police to investigate two foreign labor activists, who were invited by the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI), to "witness" the protests staged by the workers of American oil and gas company Vico's contractors in Muara Badak, East Kalimantan.

Head of East Kalimantan's Apindo Gunawan Wibowo accused of the two foreign labor activists, identified as Merry Ann and John Govil, together with SBSI official named Nason Nadeak of masterminding the continued protest by the workers of Vico's contractors, local daily Suara Kaltim reported.

The two foreign labor activists were spotted among the protesting workers last Saturday.

SBSI said they were American citizens, who are the Indonesian representatives of the American Council of International Labor Solidarity (ACIL) and the International Labor Organizations.

They came to see to the Vico protest to check the truth of SBSI's reports on the protest, according to SBSI.

But, Gunawan said Apindo, as the affiliate of ILO in Indonesia, did not know that both were ILO's representatives in Indonesia.

"We have asked Apindo's central office in Jakarta to investigate the two foreigners who we believe are the masterminds of the protest at Vico. Aside from the two, Nason Nadeak has also taken part in creating mess in East Kalimantan," he said.

He asked the authorities to deport the two labor activists if they are proven to have violated their visa purpose. (*)