Fuel protests mark Women's Day<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Makassar\/Cirebon<\/p>\n
While women in other parts of the world launched rallies to
\ndemand equal rights in commemorating International Women's Day on
\nTuesday, women here launched protests nationwide against the
\nrecent fuel price hike.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, about 100 women gathered to
\nprotest the price increase in front of the local council's
\ncompound.<\/p>\n
The protesters, most of whom were housewives and mature-aged
\nwomen, said the policy affected them the most as they were
\nresponsible for managing household spending.<\/p>\n
They said the government needed to be more serious in its
\nbattle against corruption instead of cutting the fuel subsidy.<\/p>\n
The government earlier this month raised fuel prices by an
\naverage of 29 percent, as oil prices on the international market
\nsoared to record levels. The President said the country's economy
\nwas on the verge of collapse under the weight of the fuel
\nsubsidy.<\/p>\n
Although the government has promised to provide compensation
\nfor poor families in the form of free education, health services,
\ncheaper rice, and subsidized public transportation fares, many
\nremain opposed to the unpopular policy. Some lawmakers have even
\nplanned to launch an investigation into the policy.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, dozens of women activists grouped
\nin a non-governmental organization called the Women and
\nChildren's Care Network also staged an anti-fuel hike rally.<\/p>\n
Carrying various kitchen tools, the women accused President
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Yusuf Kalla of
\nlacking sensitivity toward Indonesian women who would bear the
\nbrunt of the fuel price hike.<\/p>\n
"The government has adopted capitalism, which of course,
\naffects the people's welfare. Such a policy will only restrict
\nwomen's access to basic needs, such as health, education,
\nclothing and housing," said Eva, one of the protesters.<\/p>\n
"I wonder why the government has failed to eradicate
\ncorruption among officials working with Pertamina," she said,
\nreferring to state oil and gas company PT Pertamina.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, students nationwide continued to rally against the
\nfuel hike policy. In Indramayu regency, West Java, protesters
\nblockaded the main gates of Pertamina's marketing unit in
\nBalongan. The students also burned tires.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, academics from two noted universities in Makassar
\nwarned people of efforts by the government to blow up the ongoing
\nborder dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia in a bid to divert
\nthe people's attention away from the unpopular fuel hike policy
\nissue.<\/p>\n
Arief Wicaksono, a lecturer from Hasanudin University, also
\nfeared that the military might use the border dispute issue to
\ndemand a higher defense budget by using part of the money saved
\nfrom cutting the fuel subsidy.<\/p>\n
"I guess it is not a coincidence if the Ambalat issue (the
\nborder dispute case) has suddenly surfaced amid various protests
\nagainst the government's policy on fuel prices," Arief said as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fuel-protests-mark-womens-day-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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