JP\/7\/F01<\/p>\n
Fishermen to storm Jakarta, fishing for tax cuts<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nPekalongan<\/p>\n
In a move to step up pressure on the government to revoke newly
\ndecreed fishing taxes, thousands of fishermen from Central Java
\nhave planned to storm the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and
\nFisheries office in Jakarta on Apr. 10.<\/p>\n
The massive march was scheduled for last month, but was
\npostponed until this month as most of the fishermen were still at
\nsea.<\/p>\n
They have staged a number of demonstrations in their local
\nareas, including Tegal and Pekalongan, but their demands were
\nignored by the local authorities.<\/p>\n
They have been protesting the two new taxes, namely the
\nfishing vessel tax (PPP) and the fishing income tax (PHP) which
\nwent into effect last November.<\/p>\n
The new taxes were introduced under a decree issued by the
\nministry, which are in addition to the 5 percent levy on sales
\nthat fishermen are obliged to pay.<\/p>\n
Under the new decree, fishermen must pay the PHP tax which
\namounts to 2.5 percent of their fishing income every time they
\nreturn to port. Meanwhile, the PPP tax is collected every year
\nand is calculated by the weight of a fishing vessel. For example,
\na 30-ton boat is charged a Rp 3 million tax.<\/p>\n
The protesters are scheduled to leave on Apr. 9 for Jakarta
\nand begin their march one day later, their leaders said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The demonstration will involve those from the regencies of
\nTegal, Pekalongan, Cilacap, Brebes, Pemalang, Batang, Pati,
\nJepara and Juwana.<\/p>\n
Basari Hambali, head of Pekalongan's Indonesian Fishermen's
\nAssociation (HNSI), said his office had prepared at least 11
\nbuses to take the protesters to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
As of Monday, at least 200 of a total of 700 fishing boats had
\ndocked in the Pekalongan port and will not return to sea until
\nthey arrive home from their protests in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
However, they were waiting for approval by the HNSI central
\nboard to depart for Jakarta. The board was reported to be holding
\ntalks with Minister Rokhmin Dahuri.<\/p>\n
In their planned protest, the fishermen plan to demand that
\nthe government at least reduce the PHP tax to 1 percent of their
\nfishing income, and to allow them to pay the PPP tax in
\ninstallments, if their demand for the total revocation of the new
\ndecree goes unheeded.<\/p>\n
\"If the demand for the reduction of the PHP tax to 1 percent
\nis rejected, we will continue demonstrations,\" Basari said.<\/p>\n
Protesting fishermen last month vowed to meet with President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri to demand her intervention in revoking the
\ntwo separate fishing taxes.<\/p>\n
It was not clear whether they will go ahead with the plan for
\ntalks with Megawati during the Apr. 10 demonstration.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp7f01-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}