One Killed In Riau Workers Union Brawl

Pekanbaru, Riau, April 30 (ANTARA) - One killed and a dozen of others injured in a brawl between two opposing labor union members in Bagan Batu town, Riau district of Rokan Hilir, on Friday. Bambang, a local resident, told ANTARA that the deadly clash was caused by the dual leadership in the Bagan Batu sub-district chapter of the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI).

He said the incident occurred after members of Iwan-led SPSI installed a name board of SPSI at Sudirman Street intersection while near the location, Fuad-led SPSI's activists had also installed theirs.

Unhappy with the move of Iwan-led SPSI's camp, around 100 Fuad's men stopped and detained cargo vehicles from North Sumatran city of Medan to Bagan Batu town, he said.

The move of Fuad's backers instigated about 50 members of Iwan-led SPSI to fight them. Both camps were equipped machetes and other sharp weapons.

As a result, a local resident, named Jhon Robert Simatupang, 38, was killed and a dozen others injured in the brawl. Some of them were in a critical condition, Bambang said.

The wounded victims had been admitted to alocal health center for medical treatment. The incident was under police investigation.