On April 7th, two Indonesian trade unionists, comrade Abdul Hakam and Agus Budiono, were sent to jail to serve their 3 month sentences for the crime of opposing the interests of capital. The former is a member of Militan Indonesia, the IMT section in Indonesia, while both are trade unionists from FSPBI-KASBI in Gresik, one of the largest industrial zones in Indonesia.
Immediately after their arrests, Militan Indonesia and the IMT launched an international solidarity campaign (read: Our comrade in Indonesia jailed: Send your message of solidarity and donation). The response to this campaign has been inspiring. Revolutionaries from all over the world quickly respond by sending solidarity messages and photos (see below for some of them). Our call to raise a solidarity fund of 1000 USD has also been taken up with a lot of enthusiasm by our supporters and readers. Our campaign managed to raise 860 USD in less than a week, with donations from more than a dozen countries: Netherlands, UK, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, Canada, US, Brazil, and Taiwan.
The result of this campaign is a testament to the strength of proletarian internationalism. But more than anything else it also showcases the importance of building an international revolutionary organization like the International Marxist Tendency, that unites in its ranks the most self-sacrificing elements of the proletariat, capable of united action from one end of the world to the other. Internationalism should not just be lip-service but real deeds.
We would like to thank our readers and supporters for the support, moral and material, that they have provided for this campaign (see below for the list of donators). Please accept our most revolutionary gratitude, and let it be known that revolutionary Marxists in Indonesia are fighting not only for the liberation of workers from capitalism in Indonesia but also the whole world.
Militan Indonesia will keep this campaign running until comrade Hakam and Agus are freed from their shackles. But above all Militan Indonesia and the IMT will continue this fight until the whole of humanity is liberated from the shackle that is capitalism.
If you haven’t yet conveyed your support in this campaign of solidarity, please consider doing so. You can also support the building of a revolutionary Marxist organization in Indonesia by donating to Militan Indonesia through www.militanindonesia.org/donate.html
Donation
You can contribute to the “Hakam and Agus Solidarity Fund” by Credit Card (Paypal). This fund will be used to help Hakam and Agus’s families, and also help with their legal expenses and other expenses. We have set ourselves a target to raise 1,000 USD.
Solidarity Message
You can send your message of solidarity to our comrade Hakam and Agus by sending an email to militanindonesia@gmail.com
Any solidarity message from trade unions, youth organizations, as well as individuals will lift the spirits of our comrades. These solidarity messages will be translated to Bahasa Indonesia and will be delivered to our comrades in jail in person.
Social Media Solidarity Campaign
You can also share your photos on social media with a written message on a placard, such as “International Solidarity for Hakam and Agus”, “Stop Criminalization against Labour Activists”; “Free Hakam and Agus”. Please include a hashtag of #FreeHakamAndAgus
Solidarity Fund for Hakam and Agus (As of April 16th 2016)
TS - CanadaRp2,000,000
PB - JakartaRp50,000
AT - Indonesia - Rp50,000
AR - Jakarta - Rp100,000
NN - Jakarta - Rp500,000
NBL - Sweden - Rp245,960
CS - Switzerland - Rp245,960
EW - Switzerland - Rp121,030
JB - US - Rp122,330
AN - Denmark - Rp283,400
RKS - US - Rp248,560
VD - England - Rp245,960
OW - England - Rp121,030
MB - Canada - Rp1,258,400
AS - Canada - Rp374,790
PH - Belgium - Rp121,030
CBR - Taiwan - Rp620,750
FP - Italy - Rp370,890
AJL - Netherlands - Rp620,750
ALC - Spain - Rp408,330
HP - France - Rp121,030
TK - England - Rp21,060
R - Bekasi - Indonesia - Rp200,000
NP - Indonesia - Rp200,000
Fightback Toronto - Canada - Rp143,000
IZ - Madiun - Indonesia - Rp250,000
AA - Bali - Indonesia - Rp1,000,000
CE - German - Rp121,030
GD - England - Rp245,960
DR - Canada - Rp501,020
TK - Germany - Rp308,360
RP - Belanda - Rp121,030
TOTAL
Rp11,341,660 - (USD 860)
Solidarity messages and photos from all over the world
Solidarity from IMT comrades in Canada (Fightback) at Toronto & York Labour Council
-----
Solidarity from IMT section in Belgium (Vonk)
-----
Solidarity from the IMT section in El Salvador
-----
Solidarity from the IMT section in the US (Workers International League), Northern California Branch
-----
Solidarity from the IMT section in Canada, Montreal Branch
------
Solidarity from trade unionists in Belgium
-----
Solidarity from the Conference of Socialist Appeal, the IMT section in England
-----
Solidarity from our brothers and sisters in Belgium
------
Solidarity from the IMT section in Canada (Fightback), Toronto Branch.
-----
Solidarity from Germany
-----
Solidarity from the Marxist students at University of Brussels, Belgium
------
Solidarity from students and activists in Malang
-----
Solidarity from FSB-Bekasi
-----
-----
MESSAGE FROM A YOUNG REVOLUTIONARY IN BELGIUM
I feel weak knowing I cannot do more than send you this e-mail as I am only 16 and have no money of my own to give towards the solidarity fund. Comrades, you are the hope, the light in this dark world. You have been jailed unjustly and those who have committed this crime will be repaid in due time, I swear this.
Red Salute, Leonard Jano, Belgium
-----
SOLIDARITY FROM A PUBLIC SECTOR WORKER IN BELGIUM
SOLIDARITY WITH THE JAILED UNION MEMBERS.
Vanderbeke Roland militant ACOD OVERHEIDSDIENSTEN W.VL.(Union off all public sector workers Belgium )
-----
SOLIDARITY FROM A REVOLUTIONARY IN COLOMBIA
Dear comrades:
I've just read about comrades Hakam and Agus in jail. I understand this situation because here in Colombia when a worker studies hard and promotes discussion and debate to increase the level of the proletarians they are put in jail or killed. Here in Colombia we don't know very much about Indonesia, but we have a few things in common. Mostly the kind of things that makes all the workers of the world brothers and sisters and we also understand that a worker can be put in jail or killed because he or she is a communist or a union leader.
From here all our solidarity and we hope to see comrades Hakam and Agus free soon so we can join forces in the fight against capitalism.
Hasta la victoria siempre.
Viviremos y venceremos,
Jonathan Fortich
Bogotá - Colombia
------
SOLIDARITY FROM A YOUNG REVOLUTIONARY IN THE NETHERLANDS
Dear comrade,
I really wanted to write you this message to tell you how much of an inspiration you are to me (and I know for sure many others). Your courage and determination is exceptional. Just know, you are not alone. Comrades from all around the world are showing their solidarity to you, and so am I from the Netherlands. I am truly sorry for what they did to you, I wish you, and your family and friends the best. Try to look at it as a confirmation of how dangerous your acts are to the capitalists. You are having an huge influence and that’s one of the greatest achievements you can have.
I wish you lots of love and support Abdul Hakam!
Comradely,
Lubna Badi
------
SOLIDARITY FROM THE COMMUNIST TENDENCY IN GREECE
Dear comrades
Your heroic struggle is a real inspiration for the comrades in Greece. The ruling class is on the offensive everywhere. Cuts and attacks on living standards are ruthlessly being carried out all over the world. The bourgeoisie is terrified of the prospect of these attacks leading to a revolutionary movement, and this is why they need to attack the militants of the working class, try to terrify the workers and make an example of those who raise their heads against the bosses. It is true, you are an example, a heroic example of proletarian fighters. We are immensely proud to be your comrades.
We join our voices with thousands around the world:
Free Hakam and Agus!
Stop the Criminalization of Labour Activists
Long live the Indonesian proletariat!
The EC of the Communist Tendency
------
SOLIDARITY FROM THE TEACHER UNION IN BELGIUM
Dear,
As president of the diversity council of the teacher union Acod /ABVV (Brussels Flanders, Belgium) I am against the criminalization of the Labour Activists Hakam and Agus. Liberation and Freedom for both of them.
Greatings,
Pol De Grave
President
------
SOLIDARITY FROM US SECTION OF THE IMT (NEW YORK CITY BRANCH)
Hi comrades of Militan Indonesia,
We in the NYC2 Branch of the US section stand in permanent solidarity with the comrades and workers of Indonesia. We admire and aspire to your diligent trade union work and unwavering tenacity. We join them in the thunderous demand of releasing comrades Abdul Hakam and Agus Budiono without charge. Down with the capitalist state and forward to world socialism!
Please see a picture of us standing in solidarity with you attached.
Thanks!
Comradely,
Parson
-----
MESSAGE FROM ALAN WOODS, EDITOR OF IN DEFENCE OF MARXISM (WWW.MARXIST.COM)
Dear comrades Hakam and Agus,
From faraway London I send my heartfelt greetings and solidarity to your prison cell. You are the victims of an unjust and barbarous law that is designed to defend the interests of the rich and privileged parasites against the men and women whose labour is the source of all wealth and civilized life.
Your fight for workers’ rights is an inspiration to workers everywhere. You must know that you are not alone. Workers and all right-thinking people everywhere stand with you in your struggle for justice against slavery. We are with you even now in your prison cell. We will always be at your side to the end.
No repressive measures of the ruling class can break our revolutionary spirit. Remember the words of the poet:
“Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage.”
The thoughts of men and women can rise above the prison walls. Our aspirations for freedom fly far higher than even the highest walls. Our revolutionary spirit is stronger than any chains. It is as invincible as the power of the class we come from and whose emancipation is our final goal. No power on earth can defeat the working class once it moves to change society.
Courage, dear comrades! The tyrants shall not prevail. Our day will come. We will continue the revolutionary struggle until the hour of victory strikes.
Long live the heroic Indonesian proletariat!
Workers of the world unite!
With warmest comradely greetings,
Alan Woods
-----
SOLIDARITY FROM THE IMT IN ITALY
Dear comrades,
I am a militant of the IMT from Italy. Tonight I read your story of abuse by the institutions in your country.
Here in Italy, although most people are uncomfortable with the fact, it is well known that the low prices of many products are owed to the exploitation of workers in South-east Asian countries: this information is very well known even outside the strictly militant milieu.
I admire the courage you are showing in the face of such oppression, and I very much appreciate your effort to keep increasing your political level even during this difficult period of isolation.
I will keep reading news about you from our international webtsite of the IMT, and I hope to read good news about your situation soon. In the meanwhile I’m supporting you through socials and by informing people in my university and among my friends about your righteous struggle.
Militant greetings from Italy from my mate and me,
Francesca Parlati
------
SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FROM NETHERLAND
I read the article from this link
And while I had never heard of Hakam or Agus before I read that article I do feel as a minimum wage worker from the Netherlands that I have enough of a connection to donate what I can spare.
I hope that they will stay strong and defiant while incarcerated and that the IMT comrades will do their utmost to help them and their families.
When my next paycheck comes in I will donate more.
Greetings,
[Anonymous]
-----
SOLIARITY FROM A STUDENT UNION IN BRAZIL
Moção de solidariedade aos camaradas Hakam e Agus, dirigentes sindicais e militantes da seção da CMI na Indonésia
Nós, UNIÃO JOINVILENSE DOS ESTUDANTES SECUNDARISTAS, vimos por meio desta prestar nossa profunda e irrestrita solidariedade de classe aos camaradas Abdul Hakam, membro da Militan Indonesia, seção da CMI na Indonésia, e Agus Budiono, que foram condenados a pena de três meses de prisão por sua atividade sindical.
A lei que os condenou é uma lei infame e nós denunciaremos este crime antissindical e a atitude do sistema judiciário da Indonésia e seu governo para todo o movimento operário e em todos os lugares possíveis.
Recebam nossa sincera solidariedade mostrando que seus combates não são em vão, não somente para a classe trabalhadora na Indonésia, para o conjunto dos trabalhadores em todo o mundo.
Trabalhadores do mundo, uni-vos!
Contra a criminalização das lutas sociais!
Abaixo ao capitalismo e os ataques à classe trabalhadora!
Liberdade para Hakam e Agu!
Solidariedade Internacional à Hakam e Agu!
#FreeHakamAndAgus
Joinville, 14 de Abril de 2016
União Joinvilense dos Estudantes Secundaristas – UJES
Pamela Heerdt – Presidente da UJES
-----
SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FROM SOCIALIST FIGHT
The Socialist Fight Group and the Liaison Committee for the Fourth International sends our solidarity to the campaign Fight the Criminalization of Workers! Free Abdul Hakam and Agus Budiono. We recognise the great courageous struggle of comrades for basic workers' rights and revolutionary socialism in semi-colonial countries like Indonesia, super exploited by the global finance capital and transnational corporations located in Wall Street and the City of London, Paris, Hamburg and Tokyo and by the Indonesian bourgeoisie, who are the supine agents of that imperialism.
Our warmest revolutionary greetings to these two comrades. We are confident that the Indonesian and global working class will secure their release and they will take their place as the heroes of the class struggle that they are.
Comradely Gerry Downing, for Socialist Fight and the LCFI
-----
SOLIDARITY FROM IMT GERMANY
Comrades Hakam and Agus,
I'd like to express my solidarity with you. It's a shame that you were imprisoned for being active trade unionists and Marxists. It should be a universal right to fight for a better society, better working conditions and human rights. No country should have laws that punish political and social commitment. That's why I demand your immediate release from prison.
Keep on fighting, comrades! Red salute!
In solidarity,
Tony Kofoet (Member of the IMT Germany, Der Funke)