Thousands of workers Blocking Roads To Industrial Areas In Batam

Batam, Riau Island, Oct 3 (ANTARA) - Thousands of workers already took to the street this morning blocking roads to industrial centers in the bonded zone of Batam, just south of Singapore. The protesters are part of around 2.8 million workers all over the country taking part in a one-day strike demanding and end to out sourcing system of labor recruitment. "We are waiting for other groups before we move to the office of the city mayor in Batam Center," Suprapto, a leader of the workers said. All shops and fuel filling stations along the main street of Mukakuning leading to the Batam Centre were closed fearing that the seemingly peaceful demonstration would turn violent. Police already put a barricade in access roads to the offices of the city mayor, the city legislative council, and other vital objects. Hundreds of police officers and military personnel stood guard in front of the vital objects. Batam police chief Brig. Gen. Mende told his officers to strictly follow the legal procedure in dealing with the protesters.