[The following is a translation of a leaflet distributed by the Populist Democratic Trade Union (SEDAR) on May Day 2018.]

Today, we will again take to the streets and join the momentum of International Labour Day or May Day 2018.

Bagus Prihantoro Nugroho, Jakarta – The author of the novel Ghost Fleet, Peter Warren Singer, has uploaded a photo of Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto on his Twitter account.

Abraham Utama – The Working Party (Partai Berkarya), which was initiated by former President Suharto’s youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra alias Tommy Suharto, is aiming to occupy third place in the 2019 legislative elections.

Moh. Nadlir, Jakarta – The International People’s Tribunal on 1965 (IPT 65) says that the information revealed in 39 documents on the mass killings following the September 30 Movement (G30S) in 1965 held by the US is nothing new.

Lazuardhi Utama, Bobby Andalan (Bali) – A group of people calling themselves the “Californians Against Reclamation in Benoa Bay-Bali” held a demonstration in San Francisco to welcome the arrival of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) chairperson Said Iqbal is again talking up the issue of mass dismissals (PHK), saying most recently that the wave of layoffs has also hit the pharmaceutical industry.

Bandung – The commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad, Green Berets) Lieutenant General Gatot Nurmantyo has called on all Indonesians to be on guard against a proxy war. This war, which uses third parties in order to defeat its enemies, is largely directed at food, water and energy sources.

Jakarta – Labour observer Professor Dr. Payaman Simanjuntak has warned that a number of trade unions in Indonesia are being provoked by international trade unions, primarily from European countries and the United States, to challenge employers and the government by means of strikes.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) and a number of Islamic mass organisations oppose attempts to ban female circumcision by any groups on the grounds that it represents a religious teaching, the implementation of which is a human right protected by the Indonesian constitution.

Vitalis Yogi Trisna, Jakarta – Coinciding with the commemoration of 50 years since the New York Agreement, Papuan National Solidarity (NAPAS) held a protest action in front of the United States Embassy in the Gambir area of Central Jakarta on Wednesday August 15.

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta – The chairperson of the Anshor Youth Movement (the youth wing of the Islamic mass organisation Nahdlatul Ulama), Nusron Wahid, says that the government does not need to acknowledge past gross human rights violations, particularly the humanitarian tragedy in 1965-1966.

Today, May 1, coinciding with the commemoration of International Labour Day, the Greater Jakarta Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) again took to the streets. This was done as a protest and as our responsibility to convince the majority of people that this beloved country is still living in misery.

Elin Yunita Kristanti and Luqman Rimadi – Around 80 people calling themselves the Jakarta-Bali Papuan Society and Students held a protest action in Central Jakarta today demanding that the United Nations (UNTEA, United Nations Temporary Executive Authority), the United States, Holland and Indonesia immediately recognise West Papuan independence

Edwin Firdaus, Jakarta – Hundreds of students originating from Papua held a protest action in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday December 1, again calling for Papuan independence.

Gede Suardana, Denpasar – A protest action against the 19th ASEAN Summit in Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar on Friday November 18 was marred by a scuffle between police and demonstrators.

The action was held by scores of people from various groups under the Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights (ARDAM)

Manokwari – Shouts of “Papuan is independent” enlivened a peaceful protest action at the West Papua Provincial House of Representatives (DPRPB) on Thursday November 17.

Jakarta – In concert with the Occupy Wall Street movement that is calling for reforms to the United States’ economic policies, a similar movement has emerged in Indonesia. The Occupy Jakarta group has been holding protest actions at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building on Jl. Sudirman in Jakarta.

We fully support the strike by PT Freeport Indonesia workers for better wages and conditions. The government must guarantee legal protection to the workers and protect them against intimidation and threats while they are on strike and conducting negotiations with the company in accordance with Law Number 13/2003 on Labour.

Jakarta – State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutanto has refuted a leaked Jakarta United States Embassy diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks.

Manokwari – Residents of Manokwari, West Papua, held a protest on Tuesday August 2 by marching through the city’s major streets.