Central Java provides fertile ground for unrest<\/p>\n
BLORA, Central Java (JP): Looting broke out again in Blora on
\nWednesday when crowds of people said to be from out of town
\nransacked stores in search of fertilizers.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said 1,000 people arrived in Todanan, 40 kilometers
\nnorthwest of Blora, early on Wednesday morning. They arrived on
\nmotorcycles, in trucks and on foot.<\/p>\n
District head Adi Purwanto said the people had come in search
\nof fertilizers from villages in the nearby regency of Grobogan.
\nHowever, agricultural supplies stores in the local market have
\nbeen closed since unrest sparked by the price and shortage of
\nfertilizers first flared up here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Looters claimed traders have been hoarding fertilizers and
\nsaid they could not afford to pay the new unsubsidized prices.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin said the
\ngovernment had decided to lift subsidies on fertilizers and end
\nrestrictions to their trade after state fertilizer firm PT Pupuk
\nSriwijaya (Pusri) failed in its duty to ensure that an adequate
\nsupply of fertilizers reached the nation's farmers.<\/p>\n
Producer floor prices for unhusked rice were also raised at
\nthe same time to compensate farmers.<\/p>\n
Unrest caused by a shortage of fertilizers first flared up in
\nthe area on Sunday. On Monday evening, 2,000 people looted shops
\nand houses, including five shops selling fertilizers. Stores
\nselling general supplies and gold were also looted.<\/p>\n
Regent Soekardi appealed to shop owners to sell fertilizers at
\nthe old, subsidized prices after looting lasted well into Tuesday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, only one shop had reportedly been forced to
\nsell urea and SP36 fertilizer for the old prices of between Rp
\n500 and Rp 800 per kilogram. Prevailing market prices are now Rp
\n1,115 and 1,600 per kilogram respectively.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, crowds were also seen carrying sacks of
\nfertilizer out of a warehouse belonging to Pusri.<\/p>\n
All motorists approaching the area were stopped by police and
\nwarned to be careful. (har\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/central-java-provides-fertile-ground-for-unrest-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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