NO MORE DEBT<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: More than one thousand protesters from various non
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs), grouped into the newly-formed
\norganization the Anti-Debt Coalition (KAU), staged on Wednesday
\nan anti-foreign debt rally, urging the government to stop talks
\nwith the creditor nations of the Consultative Group on Indonesia
\n(CGI).<\/p>\n
The coalition said that the talks, which are aimed at
\nsatisfying the government's requests for fresh loans from the
\nCGI, would further burden the already battered Indonesian
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
\"The government must refuse to talk about new loans, and start
\ndemanding that Indonesia's current debt be written off,\" the
\ncoalition said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The rally began at 11 a.m. in front of Hotel Indonesia and
\ncontinued at the Bank Indonesia building in Jl. Thamrin, Central
\nJakarta where the CGI members were meeting.<\/p>\n
However, a veteran labor activist, Dita Indah Sari, admitted
\nthat the possibility that the government would comply with their
\ndemands was very slim.<\/p>\n
\"The government's prime concern now is to reschedule its old
\ndebts and to obtain new loans to fill its massive budget
\ndeficit,\" Dita said.<\/p>\n
But, the new loans would spell greater burden for the
\nIndonesian people, she said.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of farmers from Tasik, Garut, and Ciamis in West Java
\nalso joined the rally. Sources said the demonstrations would
\nproceed until Thursday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-more-debt-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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