Tripatra workers continue protests

Thousands of workers continued their protests at the Minas oil production site on Monday repeating their demand to Tripatra, a contractor of PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, to pay their suspended salaries for January.

The protests, which entered its fourth day, were also joined by the company's staff from administrative section, witnesses said. But no incidents were reported except that the workers "seized" a number of vehicles usually used to transport them.

The workers leaders said that Tripatra management was so stubborn and insensitive towards the workers' demand. "If they don't change, we will continue our protests," he said in his speech in the front of the thousands of the workers.

The protests, which also took place in other oil production sites in the province, started last week as the workers staged demonstrations in sympathy to one of their friends, Kosasih. The man and his friends were charged with stealing the company's equipment but they were freed as the police found no evidence. They then demanded the company to rehabilitate their names and reemploy them.

Tripatra management agreed to reemploy Kosasih and his friends but remained uncertain about meeting the workers' demand to pay their suspended salaries. (*)