Clash Between 75 Chinese Workers and Morowali Residents: Police Evacuate, Immigration Involved
Baca dalam 60 detik
- Sebanyak 75 tenaga kerja asal Tiongkok dari PT Astima Konstruksi diamankan ke Polda Sulawesi Tengah setelah terlibat bentrok dengan penduduk di Morowali.
- Insiden menimbulkan korban luka pada tiga warga negara Indonesia dan satu pekerja asing yang masih dirawat.
- Aparat menyelidiki dokumen keimigrasian para pekerja sambil bersiaga penuh di lokasi guna mencegah eskalasi lanjutan.
A total of 75 workers from China employed by PT Astima Konstruksi (Askon) were evacuated to the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters after being involved in a clash with residents in Morowali Regency. The incident came to light on Sunday (4/10) and immediately raised questions about the management of foreign labor in the strategic industrial area.
Morowali Police Chief AKBP Reza Khomeini stated that the evacuation was carried out to question the foreign workers intensively. "We have brought 75 foreign nationals to the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters to be questioned," he said in an official statement. Joint personnel are still being deployed at the location to anticipate possible follow-up security disturbances.
Based on preliminary data as of Saturday (3/10), the injured victims included three Indonesian citizens and one foreign national. One injured foreign worker is still being treated at a local health facility. Police have also coordinated with the Immigration office to trace the completeness of documents and the status of the workers' presence.
"We urge the public not to take actions that could worsen the situation. Trust the handling of this incident to the Police," said AKBP Reza Khomeini.
Morowali has long been known as a nickel industry hub that attracts large investment, especially from Chinese companies. The presence of thousands of foreign workers in the area has often been in the spotlight, from labor issues to social dynamics with the local community. This clash adds to the long list of tensions that have occurred in the region, albeit on varying scales.
From a policy perspective, this incident highlights the importance of overseeing social integration and administrative compliance of foreign labor. Local governments and central authorities face pressure to ensure that the presence of foreign workers does not cause friction with residents. A number of labor observers assess that cross-cultural communication and consistent enforcement of rules are key to preventing similar conflicts.
The Morowali Police Resort emphasized that it will handle this case in accordance with applicable legal provisions. Witness examinations will be conducted intensively, while coordination with related agencies continues. Police also reminded the public not to be provoked by unverified information.
Going forward, public attention will be focused on the investigation results and what steps are taken to improve the governance of foreign labor in Morowali. Will this incident become a momentum for a comprehensive evaluation, or instead trigger new tensions in the industrial area that is the backbone of the region's economy?
