Batam – Scores of workers from the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI) in Batam, Riau Islands, held a demonstration at the Batam Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Tuesday July 2 urging house members to convey their concerns over the Draft Law on Mass Organisations (RUU Ormas).

The RUU Ormas itself will be enacted at around 10am today (sic) at the by the House of Representatives (DPR). It is believed that the RUU Ormas will restore politics as a commander that will curb all types of democracy that are guaranteed under the 1945 Constitution as the highest legal foundation in Indonesia.

“We strongly reject the RUU Ormas because it will be used to curb democracy in Indonesia. The draft law has been intentionally drafted simply for political interests and does not side with the public [interest]”, said Yoni Widodo, the head of the FSPMI Batam branch.

The protesters were received by Commission I Secretary Askan Asrul Sany. “We will accommodate these aspirations. We also agree that the RUU Ormas could curb the democracy that has currently been established”, said Sany. (thr/jpnn)

[Buruh di Batam Tolak UU Ormas Baru – jpnn.com. Rabu, 03 Juli 2013. Translated by James Balowski.]