Sarbuksi
Encyclopedia
Sarbuksi, short for Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan Seluruh Indonesia ('All Indonesia Forest Workers Union'), was a trade union
of forest workers in Indonesia
. Sarbuksi was affiliated to the trade union centre SOBSI, which was linked to the Communist Party of Indonesia
. During its existence, Sarbuksi was highly influential in regards to forestry policies in Indonesia. As of January 1962, Sarbuksi claimed a membership of a quarter million.
The union was founded in Madiun
in November 1945, with the name Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan ('Forest Workers Union', SBK). SBK did however, not organize forest labourers as such. By then end of the Indonesian National Revolution
, the orientation of the union had changed towards leftist positions. The organization adopted the name Sarbuksi and began mass recruitment of forest labourers.
When the Forestry Service began mass eviction of peasant squatters with forest areas, Sarbuksi and the Peasants Front of Indonesia
(BTI) mobilized joint resistance. Sarbuksi demanded that peasants be given land rights to forest areas they inhabited. Moreover, the union fought for higher wages for junior forestry officials. Non-revolutionary elements split off from Sarbuksi, forming a new union with the old name SBK.
As response to the growth of Sarbuksi, other forest workers union were formed. One such union was Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan Islam
(SBKI). Moreover a sector in the Forestry Service, which was opposed to Sarbuksi and the Communist Party, began pressing for legal action against land squatters. As of 1964 the anti-Sarbuksi sector had begun to organize trials, and undocumented settlements in forest areas were demolished by police forces soon after. Sarbuksi mobilized protests against this development.
Following the 1965 coup d'etat, many Sarbuksi members were killed or imprisoned in camps. Surviving former Sarbuksi members were fired from their jobs at the Forestry Service. The stigma of having been associated with Sarbuksi was often passed on to children of former Sarbuksi members as well, who were met by suspiscion in their communities. Sarbuksi was formally banned on March 12, 1966.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
of forest workers in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Sarbuksi was affiliated to the trade union centre SOBSI, which was linked to the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
. During its existence, Sarbuksi was highly influential in regards to forestry policies in Indonesia. As of January 1962, Sarbuksi claimed a membership of a quarter million.
The union was founded in Madiun
Madiun
Madiun is a city in the western part of the province of East Java Indonesia, an agricultural centre. It is the capital of the regency of the same name....
in November 1945, with the name Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan ('Forest Workers Union', SBK). SBK did however, not organize forest labourers as such. By then end of the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
, the orientation of the union had changed towards leftist positions. The organization adopted the name Sarbuksi and began mass recruitment of forest labourers.
When the Forestry Service began mass eviction of peasant squatters with forest areas, Sarbuksi and the Peasants Front of Indonesia
Peasants Front of Indonesia
Peasants Front of Indonesia was a peasant mass organization connected to the Communist Party of Indonesia . BTI was founded November 25, 1945. The previous peasant organization of PKI had been the Peasants Union formed in 1945....
(BTI) mobilized joint resistance. Sarbuksi demanded that peasants be given land rights to forest areas they inhabited. Moreover, the union fought for higher wages for junior forestry officials. Non-revolutionary elements split off from Sarbuksi, forming a new union with the old name SBK.
As response to the growth of Sarbuksi, other forest workers union were formed. One such union was Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan Islam
Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan Islam
Sarekat Buruh Kehutanan Islam was a forest workers trade union. SBKI emerged in the early 1960s, trying to challenge the influence of the communist-led forest workers union Sarbuksi. SBKI was affiliated to the Islamic trade union centre SARBUMUSI....
(SBKI). Moreover a sector in the Forestry Service, which was opposed to Sarbuksi and the Communist Party, began pressing for legal action against land squatters. As of 1964 the anti-Sarbuksi sector had begun to organize trials, and undocumented settlements in forest areas were demolished by police forces soon after. Sarbuksi mobilized protests against this development.
Following the 1965 coup d'etat, many Sarbuksi members were killed or imprisoned in camps. Surviving former Sarbuksi members were fired from their jobs at the Forestry Service. The stigma of having been associated with Sarbuksi was often passed on to children of former Sarbuksi members as well, who were met by suspiscion in their communities. Sarbuksi was formally banned on March 12, 1966.