Dedi Ermansyah – The Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) executive board has declared that it is leaving the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI).

The declaration was made in a written statement of disaffiliation which was signed by PGRI general chairperson Unifah Rosyidi and secretary general Qudrat Nugraha.

The letter, numbered 289/Um/PB/XXI/2018 and dated May 4, 2018, contained four points of clarification. First, the PGRI’s statues state that the PGRI is independent and non-partisan.

Second, a decision was taken at the PGRI’s 5th National Working Conference, which was held in Batam on February 1-4, 2018, that the PGRI would leave or no longer be affiliated with the KSPI and a formal statement on this would be conveyed in writing by the PGRI’s executive board.

Third, a decision was taken by a PGRI executive board plenary meeting on April 30 to follow up on the results of the conference.

The fourth point is on the international educational constitution which states that education must be independent from the government.

“It shall be self-governing and not subject control by any political party or ideological or religious grouping”, reads the letter.

With this letter, the PGRI will no longer allow the KSPI to use the logo, symbol, uniform or website of the PGRI.

It is suspected that the PGRI’s decision to leave the KSPI is because not long ago, on May Day, the KSPI declared its support for Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto as a candidate for the 2019 presidential elections.

The union did not just support Prabowo, but KSPI president Said Iqbal signed a political contract with Prabowo.

Akurat.co has sought confirmation from Said Iqbal but has yet to receive a response.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was PGRI Keluar dari KSPI, Tolak Dukung Prabowo?.]

Source: https://news.akurat.co/id-216323-read-pgri-keluar-dari-kspi-tolak-dukung-prabowo