Muchtar Bebas Pakpahan is an Indonesian labor leader who founded the first independent trade union in Indonesia. Currently, Muchtar is active as a lawyer at Muchtar Pakpahan Associates' Law Firm and teaches at the Law Faculty of the Indonesian Christian University.
Early life
Muchtar was born on December 21, 1953, in Bah Jambi village, Tanah Jawa, Simalungun. He was born from father Sutan Johan Pakpahan and mother Victoria Silalahi. His father was a farm laborer that become a successful farmer, due to the management of the Bah Jambi's plantation land by the Indonesian Farmers Ranks Barisan Tani Indonesia, which is the main farming area of Bah Jambi II village. After Muchtar Pakpahan finished his high school, he was inspired the Malari led by Hariman Siregar. Since the incident, he became actively participating in Christian youth organization, such as joining the student senate of the North Sumatra University Law Faculty, and the board of the Medan branch of Indonesian Christian Student Movement. After finishing college in 1978, Muchtar Pakpahan made two oath to God. The first one was to "dedicate his rest of life to defend the poor and to see that justice is done" and the other one was to give his son to be a priest.
Career
Lawyer
After graduating, Muchtar Pakpahan opened a lawyer office in Medan. Most of his clients were little and poor people, such as laborers and farmers. He rarely win the case when defending them, due to the intimidation to him and the accusation of communist. Several prominent cases that he handled includes:
Inalum Asahan Project. For the project, many lands owned by locals are took over with a very little compensation by the Special Regional Executor. He advocated for the case and was accused as a communist.
Deli Match Factory in Medan. The factory was seen as unfair due to the ten-hour day and very low payment. The laborers of the factory, supported by the trade union, organized a strike and demanded a raise. The leader of the strike, Amosi and Arip, were tortured in the District Commando of Medan, and Muchtar was threatened to be killed after being accused of raising communism.
The firing of 2800 Jakarta Passenger Transport drivers. The company told that this happened due to the excess of employee, but the drivers stated to Muchtar that this happened due to corruption in the company. He was threatened to be killed after advocating the case.
Street vendors in Jakarta. The vendors was banned from selling in the streets for the "beauty of Jakarta" by Soedomo, the Coordinating Minister for Social, Politic, and Security Affairs. Muchtar advocated for this case by organized them, and he was threatened several times because of his act.
. The Kedung Ombo dam project sank 37 villages in Sragen, Boyolali, and Grobogan, with very low compensation. The victims of the project protested, but were silenced and tortured by the armed forces. Muchtar also get a threat from his advocation in this case.
Kampung Sawah in Jakarta. The village was burned down and flattened, and the villagers were restricted to get back into their house. They were forced to moved to state-build flats in Tangerang. The flattened village was rebuilt as the Taman Anggrek Mall.
In the trade union
After being actively advocating as a lawyer, Muchtar Pakpahan went to form the Indonesian Workers Welfare Union in 1992, the only independent trade union at that time. Muchtar became the chairman for the organisation from 1992 until 2003. Due to his activity, he was accused of organizing a strike. He was imprisoned in 1994, and freed on 20 Mei 1995. During his time in prison, he claimed to be dragged by the guards, stripped, and threatened to be killed. He also pray for the repentance of Soeharto.
Family
Muchtar was married to Rosintan Marpaung, a teacher from the state high school in Jakarta. Rosintan was a daughter from Nicolaus Marpaung, a retired policeman and Maria Pasaribu. They were married on 17 November 1979. The marriage resulted in one girl, Ruth Damai Hati in 1985, an amateur actor, and two boys, Binsar Pakpahan, a reverend, and Johannes Darta, a lawyer. Muchtar has one sister, Nelly, and three brothers, Borotan Hatigoran, Bona Barita, and Batu Sonang.
