Since the overthrow of the dictator Soeharto in the late 1990's, Indonesia has been a formal democracy with a number of elections being successfully held.

Nevertheless for working class communities, both in the rural and urban areas, gaining justice and having their human rights respected is not just about the law.

We talk to Herlambang Wiratraman, Director at the Centre of Human Rights Law Studies (HRLS), Faculty of Law, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia, at the systematic and structural barriers that exist in Indonesia that favour powerful interests and prevent human rights abuses, some dating back 40 years, from being addressed.

Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia