Consumers remain ignorant of their rights<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite having won the class action lawsuit recently against
\nstate-run oil and gas company Pertamina, consumers remain
\nignorant over their rights, as revealed in a discussion organized
\nby the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The organization had sent some 150 invitations to liquefied
\npetroleum gas (LPG) consumers to discuss the follow up of the
\nverdict, but less than 20 people showed.<\/p>\n
It is hard for consumers to be united because many were
\nskeptical about efforts made to fight for their rights against
\ncompanies, especially those that were large and influential, said
\nSri Lisnawati, a housewife from Tangerang.<\/p>\n
\"My neighbors know that I was one of those who filed this
\nlawsuit and I had distributed invitations to my neighbors to
\nattend today's gathering. They said they would come but at the
\nlast minute, none of them showed up,\" Lisnawati added.<\/p>\n
Lies Sugeng from Sawangan, Depok, had even chartered cars as
\ntransportation and prepared snacks for her neighbors to attend
\nthe meeting but none of them were willing to confirm their
\nparticipation.<\/p>\n
\"Some were even cynical about the class action,\" Lies said,
\nadding that many did not understand that the rights of consumers
\nwere protected by law.<\/p>\n
Since Law No 8\/1999 on consumer protection came into effect,
\nthe LPG case has been the first class action won by consumers.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Ichsan from YLKI estimated there were some 200,000
\nLPG consumers in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"In front of us there is still a long struggle. We have to
\nconsolidate and stick together until what we fight for is
\nobtained,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Even though YLKI won the class action suit, the decision could
\nnot be immediately executed because Pertamina had appealed.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 9, Central Jakarta District Court found that Pertamina
\nhad acted unlawfully in increasing the price of liquefied gas
\nwithout first fully informing LPG consumers about the hike.<\/p>\n
The court ordered Pertamina to revoke last November's decision
\nto raise the price of LPG by 40 percent from Rp 1,500 to Rp 2,100
\nper kilogram.<\/p>\n
The company was also told to compensate class members to the
\ntune of Rp 144,000 per month in material losses and pay Rp 16,000
\nto every person who could prove that they were LPG consumers in
\nGreater Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/consumers-remain-ignorant-of-their-rights-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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