Jakarta – Hundreds of workers who are members of the Indonesian Workers Alliance Against War and Colonisation spilled on to the streets in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta on Thursday May 15. During the action commemorating the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, they rejected war and colonialism and supported independence for Palestine.
The workers came from seven labour organisations, namely the Indonesian Association of Trade Unions (ASPEK), the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), the Indonesian Confederation of Independent Workers (KBMI), the Indonesian Muslim Trade Unions Confederation (K-SARBUMUSI), the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI), the Nusantara Trade Union Confederation (KSPN) and the Association of Indonesian Trade Unions (GSBI)
ASPEK President Muhammad Rusdi said that the workers are urging the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, to pay greater attention to the freedom of the Palestinian people who are occupied by Israel. He added that colonialism in the world must be eradicated as stated in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution.
"Urging the government of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to actively defend the Palestinian people and nation and implement a world order based on independence, eternal peace and social justice as stated in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution", said Rusdi in a statement on Thursday.
Rusdi said that there were four more issues that were voiced in front of the US Embassy located on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan in the Gambir sub-district of Central Jakarta.
First, put an end to war and create world peace. "Second, stop the genocide in Gaza, Palestine, and Indonesian workers fully support the independence of the Palestinian people", he said.
Then the third, requesting the removal of the veto right in the UN Security Council. Then the fourth, calling on workers in Indonesia and throughout the world and the international community to support and strengthen unity and strengthen the voice of the Palestinian people for their independence.
"We demand an end to the military occupation of Palestine and reject all forms of war and colonialism", he added.
He said that the movement and struggle of Indonesian workers is an inseparable part of similar actions by other workers and the people of the world. He considers that solidarity is a limitless power and is one of the weapons of the labour struggle.
"Today, Thursday, May 15, 2025, with the momentum of the 77th Nakba commemoration, we are holding a call to action to stop war and create world peace", he said.
Rusdi said that Nakba Day is an annual day of commemoration for Palestinians marking the moment when the systematic ethnic cleansing, violent occupation and forced expulsion of around 750,000 to one million Palestinians took place.
Palestinians were expelled from their homes and homeland and since 1948 Israel has seized around 78 percent of the Palestinian territory.
He said that May 15 is also commemorated as a day for the return of Palestinians to their homeland. According to Rusdi, this has become a momentum for solidarity by the world's people in support of Palestinian independence.
Therefore, he condemns the colonisation, illegal occupation and genocide carried out by Zionist Israel supported by the US and its allies.
"We, the workers of Indonesia who are members of the Indonesian Workers' Alliance Against War and Colonisation, are holding an action to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in the ongoing struggle for justice, rights, liberation and true independence of the Palestinian people", he said.
Rusdi said that the workers also condemned the ongoing Zionist Israeli genocide, colonisation and illegal occupation of up to 78 percent of Palestinian land. He also condemned Israel's brutal military campaign in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, which has left 7 million Palestinians being forced into exile.
For more than seven decades, Israeli Zionist colonialism has committed countless atrocities against the Palestinian people. They have carried out land confiscations, home demolitions, violence, murder and military attacks.
"Including in the days leading up to the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, we have witnessed together how Israeli forces continue to launch a series of attacks on Gaza and carry out forced military attacks on Palestinian homes in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem", he said.
He emphasised that Israel's Zionist barbarism must be stopped immediately because it has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. He also pushed for Israel to be brought before an international court as a war criminal and for humanitarian crimes.
"We demand that the British and United States imperialists who facilitate and enable this oppression, stop supporting and funding the massacre of the Palestinian people", he concluded.
- Marking 77 years since Nakba, reject war, colonialism and support a free Palestine. Workers Alliance Statement – May 15, 2025
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ratusan Buruh Desak Presiden Prabowo agar Aktif Bela Kemerdekaan Rakyat Palestina ".]
