Attack on the secretariat of the Political Committee of the Poor

KPRM
EMERGENCY: Attack on the secretariat of the Political Committee of the Poor (KPRM) in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Saturday, May 17, 2008 – 00.10 local time. 20 thugs brutally attacked the KPRM offices at 10 minutes past midnight in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan on Saturday May 17. Poice and intelligence agents, who had the offices under survaillance, were seen to join the
attack. At the time of the attack there were activists from the Indonesian Street Buskers Union – SPI; National Student League for Democracy – Politics for the Poor - LMND PRM, Political Committee for the Poor - KPRM-PRD at the offices.
The afternoon before the attack, 3 members of the SPI: Lasai, Pice, and Akbar, were suddenly seized off the street in front on the Balikpapan No 3 high school, while they were on their way to fetch some friends. They were
taken to the police station accused of carrying out "anarchistic actions".
However, during the interrogations it became clear that the apparatus wanted to intimidate them not to continue theirporotest actions over fuel price rises. They were beaten during the interrogations. One activist (Pice) had
his beard set onfire. They were relesed at 8.00pm.
The two brutal incidents are clearly part of attempts to intimidate and terrorise in order to stop the major actions against the fuel price rises planned nationally for May 21.
Demands raised at preceding actions include: Reject the fuel price rise; Lower prices; Reject the forces of the New Order era remnants, the Fake Reformasi Supporters and the Military.
The activists are now consolidating preparing to resis such acts and are not retreating an inch from their plans for the mobilization aksi to demand the cancellation of the fuel price rises.
This kind of terroristic action was normal during the era of the Suharto dictatorship. Militarism and the remnants of the New Order are still infiltrating into civilian life. There is only one word: RESIST!
Your solidarity is needed to strengthen the front of resistance and to pressure the authorities to to take legal action against those carrying out these acts of intimifation/terror and vandalism.
Send you messages of solidarity to: SMS text short messages to No: +62 856-52208434; or +62 815-8126673
Email: pembebasan.kprm@gmail.com ; dan ront.pembebasan.nasional@gmail.com.
There is only one word: RESIST!

Solidarity from PSM Malaysia
May 18, 2008
Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) condemns the Indonesian authorities for the attack of the office of KPRM (Political Committee of the Poor) at Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on 17 May. Such action is replicant of New
Order's repressvie messures to suppress the rising of ordinary people.
PSM also extends its solidarity to the planned mass action against fuel price hike on 21 May. This is a crucial time for the left and progressive forces to come together to resist neoliberal attacks.
In solidarity,
Choo Chon Kai
International Bureau Socialist Party of Malaysia / Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
International Bureau Socialist Party of Malaysia / Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
Address: No.22A, Lorong Vivekananda, 50470 Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA.
Tel: +60-3-22747791, (mobile) +60-19-5669518
Fax: +60-3-87374772
email: (headquarters) psmhq@tm.net.my
(international bureau) int.psm@gmail.com
visit our website at: http://parti-sosialis.org/

Solidarity from DSP Australia
DSP condemns right-wing attacks on Indonesian left
From the Democratic Socialist Perspective (Australia)
May 18, 2008
The Democratic Socialist Perspective (Australia) stands 100% in solidarity with the activists campaigning against the fuel price rises in Indonesia.
We condemn the police detention and interrogation of three Indonesian Street Buskers Union activists on May 16, and the brutal attack on the Balikpapan office of the Political Committee of the Poor (KPRM) on May 17.
We call on the Indonesian government to publicly condemn these attempts to intimidate the people and take immediate legal action against the perpetrators of the attack on the KPRM office.
We extend our solidarity to all those who mobilise on May 21 against the fuel price rises.
Yours in solidarity and struggle,
Lisa Macdonald
International Relations Committee
Democratic Socialist Perspective
international@dsp.org.au
http://www.dsp.org.au