SBSI considers suing East Kalimantan Police

The SBSI labor union is considering to sue the East Kalimantan Police if it continue to detain the provincial coordinator of SBSI Wuaya Kawilarang over alleged wrong doing in the recent labor strike at oil and gas firm Vico Indonesia, according to SBSI legal consultant Nason Nadeak.

Nason was quoted by the local Kaltim Post daily as saying that the Police had no reason to detain Wuaya because he was just a labor trying to fight for his rights. "He can't be accused of making provocation," he said.

The police started to detain Wuaya on Saturday, and named him a suspect on Monday over his alleged involvement in provoking other labors to take hostile action including taking hostage of Vico employees during their strike.

Hundreds of employees of Vico sub contractors had staged a labor strike demanding among other things a raise in salary. The protesters launched a road blockade during the strike causing Vico to temporarily halt operation.

Certain parties have demanded the government to take action against the SBSI labor union because their labor activity could lead to a destruction of company assets and create social unrest in the province.

Elsewhere, Nason said that the detention of Wuaya would not cause the SBSI to soften or back off from its struggle to improve the welfare of the labors.

Meanwhile, Kaltim Post also said that seven legislators of the Kutai House of Representatives met with Togar Wednesday to ask for the release of Wuaya. (*)