Protesters reject price hike<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
More than 1,000 protesters from the Muslim organization Hizbut
\nTahrir and the left-wing League of National Students for
\nDemocracy (LMND) flocked to the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in
\nCentral Jakarta on Monday to protest government plans to raise
\nfuel prices, along with telephone and electricity fees, this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Nearly half of the protesters were women clad in Muslim attire
\nand headscarves. During the protest, which began at 1:30 p.m.,
\nmembers of the Hizbut Tahir made speeches and staged an arts
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
Muh. Ismail Yusanto, coordinator of the Hizbut Tahir, said his
\norganization also demanded the implementation of economic
\nregulations based on Muslim law, and the rejection of capitalism.<\/p>\n
He also criticized the reduction of government's subsidies for
\nfuel prices and electricity tariffs.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of reducing the subsidy, the government should make
\nserious efforts to combat corruption, collusion and nepotism, to
\nsave money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, LMND members demanded the government raise the
\nminimum wage, while calling for a reduction in prices of basic
\nstaples.<\/p>\n
About 100 members of the LMND arrived at the roundabout about
\nan hour after the Hizbut Tahir members. They joined the protest
\nby riding bicycles and becak (pedicabs).<\/p>\n
According to Aj.Sr.Com. Ramser E.S, the ranking police chief
\nassigned to safeguard the Bundaran HI protests, seven
\norganizations and political parties had informed the police about
\nthe planned protest.<\/p>\n
The demonstration, which lasted just under two hours, was
\nconducted in an orderly way, although traffic congestion did
\nresult when the protesters dispersed.<\/p>\n
The government plans to increase basic fees for electricity by
\nup to 15 percent by Jan. 1, 2002, while there will be an increase
\nof between 20 and 25 percent for fuel by the end of this month.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, there will also be 15 percent increase in telephone
\nfees, to effect around mid-January.<\/p>",
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