Today, 24th May 2012, more than fifty workers and pro democracy activists from Joint Labor Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) – Greater Jakarta paid visit to Ambassador of Pakistan, Mr. Sanaullah, in Jalan Mega Kuningan Barat Blok E.3.9 Kav. 5-8, Jakarta, Indonesia. Workers and activists with posters, banner, and mostly red t-shirts came to demand the release of Baba Jan and all Hunza and Faisalabad Political Prisoners. One of the staffs of the Embassy, who didn’t want to mention his name, ‘welcomed’ and received a protest letter from Sekber Buruh and promised to deliver the demands to the Ambassador and Pakistan government. Unfortunately he didn’t want to say it in front of the loudspeaker, as he considered it as improper things to do.
Some representatives from several organizations in Sekber Buruh gave their solidarity speech. The speeches cover range of issues, from the fact that workers and people’ struggle around the world for their basic human rights against the military and corporate states are facing the similar repression, to different form and characteristic of common struggle for welfare and democracy. One of the speaker stated that the struggle of the working class against the capitalist system and military state are the struggle for humanity. Not all people participated in the solidarity actions were familiar with what happened in Pakistan, but they understood and felt close to the common issues faced by workers and pro democracy activists there. That’s why the workers and activists in Sekber Buruh were informed and educated through this solidarity initiative all at once.
Sekber Buruh, for the first time since its established early this year, had shown their Internationale spirit in practice. Sekber Buruh committed to continue the solidarity work until all political prisoners in Pakistan were released. That was what the “Internationale” song mean and sung at almost every form of actions by Sekber Buruh.
Sekber Buruh is a Joint Labor Secretariat of Greater Jakarta, consisted mainly of progressive trade unions and supported by left wing student organizations, radical left political groups and party, several NGO, and one progressive women organization, in Jakarta and the satellite cities around Jakarta, Indonesia. It was established as a response against the wage freeze, fuel price hikes, and land conflict in Indonesia since last year. It wasn’t the first left wing united front initiatives but it has been growing less sectarian and more supportive than the previous one.
Report by Zely Ariane
For the Letter given to the Ambassador:
See on ESSF (article ), Sekber Buruh Jabodetabek, Free Baba Jan and All Hunza and Faisalabad 9 Political Prisoners; Democracy and Welfare to all Pakistani People!