News flash
WALHI condemns the act of terror committed against KASBI
Jakarta—A news report titled “KASBI Secretariat Office Protested by Unknown Individuals&” published by Tempo on February 17, 2020, stated that a group of unknown individuals staged a demonstration in front of the Secretariat of the Confederation of the Congress of the Indonesian Labor Union Alliance (KASBI) on Cipinang Street, Kebembem, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta.
KASBI Chairwoman Nining Elitos confirmed the incident reported by Tempo, stating that a group of people arrived, burned tires, and gave speeches about the Omnibus Law. According to her, “there was no prior notice; the demonstration happened suddenly.”
Nining also explained that the group expressed their support for the Omnibus Law on Job Creation. They also chanted for the dissolution of KASBI.
In response, WALHI’s National Executive Director, Nur Hidayati, condemned the intimidation carried out by this group of unknown individuals. Furthermore, she added that such actions constitute a disregard for democracy, which upholds freedom of opinion and expression. The demonstrators’ calls for the dissolution of KASBI are one example of this.
Furthermore, according to Nur Hidayati, the “Omnibus Law”—which from the very beginning of the process involved only a handful of elites and was led by business interests—truly strips citizens of their fundamental rights, namely the right to know all policies that will affect their lives, as well as the right to actively and meaningfully participate in the process of drafting them. This is an extraordinary step backward in the democratic life of our country. []