"The strike is still ongoing and the police are still putting dialogs before other efforts," the Head of the National Police`s Public Information Service Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Police are still conducting dialogs in their efforts to persuade Freeport workers in Papua to end their strike in support of their demand for a pay raise.

"The strike is still ongoing and the police are still putting dialogs before other efforts," the Head of the National Police`s Public Information Service Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said when asked about the latest developments in Papua here on Wednesday.

He said the police were still trying to make the workers understand that blocking access roads was an anarchic action as it was disrupting transportation of supplies for the public.

"There is no plan yet to forcibly disperse them. (We are) still applying the persuasive approach," he said.

The Deputy Chairman of the Mimika Legislative Assembly, Karel Gwijangge, meanwhile had asked the Mimika resort police to reconsider its plan to use force to disperse workers on strike at Check Point Im, Mile 28, Mile 27 and Gorong-gorong in Timika.

In reply to ANTARA`s question on Monday, he said forceful action by police could result in more violence-marked incidents.

"None of the parties want to see new violence that would only hurt both sides namely the police and the workers. If the police continue with their plan to open the blockades and drive away the demonstrating workers, I fear more violent incidents will occur," he said.

He hoped all sides would introspect on what had happened on Monday (October 10) when a number of workers and police officers were hurt and even a worker was killed during a clash between them.

"There are still others ways which are wiser than forcibly dispersing them. Moreover PT Freeport`s SPSI (workers` union) unit has asked for a week to respond to Freeport management`s offer. There are already positive signs," he said.

He said if the police insisted on its plan the impact could possibly be worse.

If that is what happens the handling of various problems at PT Freeport would be more difficult to solve, he said.

The Mimika Resort Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Deny Edward Siregar, has issued an ultimatum to PT Freeport`s SPSI unit led by Sudiro to stop their strike and open the blockades.

If the ultimatum which was put in his letter dated on October 30, 2011 is not heeded the police will forcibly disperse them.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011