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 Another
bombing tragedy has occurred, this time at the JW Marriott Hotel
in Jakarta.
Once again
a tourist destination has been targeted. This event comes after the
bomb blast at Sari Club, Bali, on October 12, 2002, which killed 180
people and wounded hundreds more. Not only have these tragedies caused
great loss of life and injury to humanity; they are also a death knell
for the tourism industry.
The tourism
industry has not yet recovered from the Bali bombing, which caused tourist
numbers to fall dramatically. This decline will now worsen, because
there are no security guarantees for tourists visiting Indonesia. In
2002 only 4.05 million tourists came to Indonesia, whereas by comparison
Thailand received 10.4 million in the same year.
The fall in
tourist numbers following the bombings has been felt in low hotel occupancy
rates - the average occupancy rate is now around 46.89%. The Marriott
bombing threatens not only the 670 workers at the hotel with job losses
but will also influence the prospects of the industry's 9 million workers.
The tourism industry employs some 8.11% of national workforce and is
the largest source of national income after the oil and gas and timber
and forestry sectors; larger even than the textile and garment sector.
Tourism
workers are always victims!
We have
shed much blood and many tears. We tourism workers are like any ordinary
people working for wages to feed our children and families, so why are
we are always targeted by terrorists? We don't have political goals,
we don't have enemies; but time and again we are forced to watch as
our innocent brothers and sisters lose their lives.
The response
of the Independent Federation of Tourism Sector Unions (FSPM) to the
tragedy at the JW Marriott Hotel is as follows:
•
The FSPM grieves for the many victims of the tragedy. We also send our
deepest condolences and sympathies to all the families of the wounded
and those who lost their lives, as well as to owners in the tourism
industry. We hope they may survive this painful tragedy.
•
The FSPM strongly condemns all terrorist acts targeting civilians and
regards these as serious crimes for which there can be no justification,
and which show no regard for the value of human dignity.
•
The FSPM appeals to the ownership and management of the JW Marriott
Hotel to show concern for the fate of their workers and for their job
security; and to offer full assurances that no 'rationalisation' or
restrictions upon workers' rights will take place as a result of the
attack.
•
The FSPM calls on the Indonesian Police to heighten security and to
closely monitor tourism sites in order to avoid such a tragedy reoccurring.
•
The FSPM calls on the Indonesian Police to conduct a proper and independent
investigation. All suspects detained or arrested must be processed in
accordance with the laws of the country and with respect for human rights.
•
The FSPM calls upon all citizens to show solidarity; rather than merely
condemning the bombing, greater attention must be paid to the broader
security situation which has allowed so many civilians to become victims,
and to address the weaknesses of the security forces in preventing terrorist
attacks.
The Independent Federation of Tourism Sector Unions (FSPM), is a
federation of unions whose membership represents workers in hotels,
restaurants, plazas, apartments, catering and other tourism sectors.
FSPM member unions are located in Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, East
Java and Bali. The FSPM has been affiliated to the IUF since 2001.
[2003.08.25]
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