"But we established communication and conducted lobbies until the police allowed us to hold a peaceful rally to commemorate International Labor Day in Imbi Jayapura Park in North Jayapura District."
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Several organizations under the Papua Labor Movement staged a peaceful rally to commemorate International Labor Day or May Day on Wednesday.

The organizations included the Legal Aid Institution (LBH) Papua, the Human Rights Lawyers Association (PAHAM) Papua, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Papua, the Alliance Democracy for Papua (ALDP), the Independent Forum of Papuan Students (FIM), Papuan Voices, and the Workers' Coalition.

Director of LBH Papua Emanuel Gobay, who is also the coordinator of the rally, said in Jayapura on Wednesday that the police had earlier banned the group from conducting a rally to commemorate International Labor Day.

"But we established communication and conducted lobbies until the police allowed us to hold a peaceful rally in Imbi Jayapura Park in North Jayapura District," he said.

He said the police only allowed the group to hold a rally for 30 minutes from 02.00 p.m. to 02.30 p.m.

"Despite being guarded by the police, our colleagues under the Papua Labor Movement continued to give speeches, while showcasing our demands written on pieces of wood and unfurling two banners carrying our demands," he said.

The written demands read "Pay Wages According to UMP (Minimum Provincial Wage)" and "PT Freeport Indonesia commits humanity crimes against 8,300 striking workers".

"There were several demands conveyed during the rally. First, the government should soon audit labor wages at all companies in Papua. Second, the government and PT Freeport Indonesia should also settle the issue of its 8,300 striking workers," he said.

The other demands include that the government should abolish the outsourcing system in Papua, workers should establish labor unions in their respective workplace, companies must declare May 1 as a public holiday, the government should soon set up a labor desk to settle labor issues, employers must give wages according to the provincial minimum wage, and companies should be banned from employing underage children.

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Musa Abubar, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019