Jakarta (AFP) - Hundreds of workers at a Chinese-owned nickel processing plant in eastern Indonesia demonstrated Wednesday to demand safer working conditions following a deadly explosion.
The accident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Morovali Industrial Park on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. At least 18 people were killed, including eight Chinese workers, and dozens more were injured in an explosion at a nickel processing plant of the Indonesian company Aoyama Stainless Steel in the park.
Among the protesters 23 demands were that Chinese workers learn Bahasa Indonesia
About 300 workers gathered at the park Wednesday to take part in a demonstration and make 23 demands aimed at strengthening work safety standards. According to letters submitted to police by union representatives, the demands included better maintenance of smelting furnaces, improving the ability of medical clinics to respond to emergencies and requiring Chinese workers to learn Indonesian.
Video of the demonstration showed protesters chanting through loudspeakers: "No production is worth the loss of life!" Taufik, a 40-year-old welder, was among those killed in the accident, leaving behind a wife and two children. Tawfiks relatives said the company offered 600 million rupiah (about S $50,000) in compensation to the family after the incident.
Park spokesman Kurniawan said the peaceful demonstration did not affect the parks operations. He said the company had met the protesters demands made two days ago, without elaborating. "We hope that after the protesters hear our explanation, the demonstration will end."