Jakarta – For exactly four days scores of former PT Freeport Indonesia employees have been camped out opposite the State Palace in Central Jakarta. Sleeping under tents made from tarpaulin, the employees who were sacked by the Freeport gold-and-copper mine in 2017 are sleeping over making use of whatever supplies they have available.

Viva democracy and equality!

March 8, 2018, is exactly 118 years since the Women’s Conference in Denmark which set March 8 as International Women’s Day (IWD).

Sherr Rinn – The National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian military (TNI) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which Polri can request assistance from the TNI to secure protest actions and labour strikes.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian military (TNI) and police on the involvement of the TNI in police duties such as confronting protests and strikes has been criticised as a step back for reformasi.

Ahmad Syarifudin, Yogya – Hundreds of students held a protest action at the Pal Putih Monument in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Sunday December 10 to commemorate International Human Rights Day.

Alpen Martinus, Tondano – Scores of Manado State University (Unima) students from the Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan), the Minahasa Progressive Women and individual pro-democracy activist held a solidarity action at the Unima main gate on Monday November 27.

Sarinah – The setting of the 2018 minimum wage has it seems has been full of drama compared with previous years. Newly elected Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, who were earlier applauded and flattered “as high as the sky” by their trade union supporters, are now being labeled as liars.

Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) President Said Iqbal says that hundreds of thousands if not a million workers affiliated with the KSPI are ready to take part in the Action to Defend Islam by holding a national strike.

Bekasi – On the second day of the national strike, Tuesday November 25, the United People’s Committee (KPR) conducted sweeps of factories, held a convoy and a solidarity action for workers who have been dismissed.

Karawang

Bekasi City – Responding to the call for a national strike on November 24-27, on Tuesday November 24 thousands of workers in the city of Bekasi, West Java, held a convoy opposing Government Regulation Number 78/2015 on Wages.

Malaysia – Indonesian migrant workers (BMI) working in Malaysia have joined in opposing Government Regulation (PP) Number 78/2015 on Wages with posters reading, “We as workers in Malaysia reject the PP 78”.

Adi Marsiela/PCN, Bandung – At least 200 workers from the West Java Labour Alliance (Al-Jabar) began marching from the West Java provincial capital of Bandung to Jakarta on Monday November 16.

Sherr Rinn – The Indonesian Labour Movement (GBI), which is made up of the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI)/Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), the Confederation of Prosperity Labour Unions (KSBSI), the Indonesian Labour Union Confederation Preparatory

Fransisco Rosarians, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno has issued another controversial statement.

Ayunda W Savitri, Jakarta – The legal attorney representing national police (Polri) headquarters and Commissioner General Budi Gunawan, Frederick Yunadi has asked that the national police not always be blamed in the conflict with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Fariansyah Bagenda, Bekasi – A protest action by striking workers from the company PT Metindo Erasakti which are affiliated with the Fraternity of Indonesian Muslim Workers  (PPMI) was blocked by members of the Pancasila Youth (PP) on Thursday January 15.

Adela Eka Putra Marza – After expressing their disagreement several days ago over the setting of the Jakarta minimum provincial wage (UMP) for 2015, which has declined relative to the value of the rupiah against the US dollar, on Wednesday November 26 workers finally took to the streets to convey their demand for a revision of the UMP.

Surya Mujib Anwar, Surabaya – Demonstrators from a number of different groups in East Java have begun arriving at the grounds of Governor Suryo in front of the State Grahadi building in the provincial capital of Surabaya on Thursday May 1.

Yogya – Scores of students from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held an action in solidarity with the October 31-November 1 national strike in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta. The action, which was held in front of the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace, was marked with the lighting of one thousand candles.

Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta – An action in solidarity with the national strike was held by scores of students from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) at the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Friday evening.