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Protesting Indonesian students write to Chinese ambassador threatening to deport workers
- The students have been protesting since March over the phased arrival of 500 Chinese nationals to work at nickel smelter projects in Sulawesi
- They are concerned jobs are being taken away from locals, as the coronavirus pandemic is expected to leave 3.7 million more Indonesians out of work
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Indonesian students protesting against the presence of Chinese workers on Sulawesi island have written to China’s ambassador in Jakarta calling for a temporary halt to their entry, and for existing workers to be deported to prevent conflict with local residents.
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Since March, the students have been holding demonstrations over the planned phased arrival of 500 Chinese workers at nickel smelter projects in Konawe regency in Southeast Sulawesi province, accusing them of taking jobs away from locals during the coronavirus pandemic.
The protesters say the Chinese arrivals are not skilled personnel but “ordinary workers” and their jobs could be done by local residents.
“We only want fairness,” wrote Sulkarnain, head of the Kendari branch of the Islamic Students Association in Southeast Sulawesi, which organised the protests. “We hope your government would not be upset if we enter the industrial area to deport the workers.” The letter was emailed to the Chinese embassy last week.
Sulkarnain confirmed to This Week In Asia that the protesting students would “enter the industrial site” to compel those Chinese workers without proper documentation to leave.
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