What does violence accomplish?

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 05/06/2006 11:24 AM  |  Opinion

After a massive labor rally Wednesday turned violent, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the incident harmed the country's image, while union leaders blamed antigovernment elements for provoking the clash.

It is probably true that neither the workers or security officers anticipated the violence that eventually occurred, given that a similar rally Monday was peaceful.

Also, it should be noted the police handled the angry mob properly, and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani should be commended for going out into the field to assess the situation for himself.

All parties, including government institutions, the police, employers and labor unions and organizations, should be aware that any street protest has the potential of being exploited by disgruntled groups to spread their agenda or simply to cause chaos.

The question is why did this violence occur? Will the violence help workers achieve the better pay and treatment they are demanding? The workers, grouped under the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPSI), must know that injuring security personnel and destroying the fence in front of the House of Representatives building will not move employers to give them raises and more benefits.

While condemning the violence, it should be acknowledged that President Yudhoyono's administration has obviously failed to take the necessary steps to help workers.

The government has yet to improve the investment climate, despite Yudhoyono's efforts. During several overseas trips, including a recent one to the Middle East, he has met with local businesspeople to sell them on Indonesia as an investment destination, but to little effect.

With the investment climate yet to improve, unemployment continues to climb. There are now at least 11 million unemployed people in the country who have no hope of improving their lives.

Worse, the political parties who whispered sweet promises to workers in the last elections have done nothing to defend their rights. Now that they are comfortably ensconced in the House, these parties have conveniently forgotten all those earlier promises.

The high iron fence surrounding the House is a symbol of the gap between lawmakers and the people who elected them. It must have given the demonstrators some sense of satisfaction in tearing down this barrier.

Since the New Order era, labor movements in the country have invariably ended in disappointment for workers. Local authorities, including the military and police, unfailingly backed employers and dismissals, or the threat of dismissals, were wielded as an effective weapon for curbing labor protests, much as today.

Workers have built up decades' worth of disappointment and suspicion toward the government, fueled by their repeatedly getting the short end of any labor dispute. Recent attempts by employers to have the government revise the 2003 Labor Law seems to be just one more attempt to corner workers.

The damage has been done. It is time for the government to sit down and review the situation. Will the government allow things to continue as they are, which will just lead to more labor protests and violence?

The government must realize that what the unemployed want is some kind of assurance that the situation will get better, along with a concrete timeframe, so they can see a ray of hope amid their empty days without jobs. While workers want guarantees their companies will not go bankrupt and that employers will treat them with dignity and respect.

It is now up to the government, which must act quickly as more and more life here is colored with chaos, as people grow increasingly frustrated with the injustices they face, both real and perceived.

The country saw on TV that people frustrated by the results of a recent election for regent expressed their anger through violence, destroying state and private property. Other groups, who feel more powerful, are taking the law into their into their own hands and passing judgment on anyone with a different opinion or faith.

How can the nation attract more foreign investors or tourists if violence is commonplace and considered the best way to solve problems?

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