Susilo allays concerns of RI New Yorkers<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, New York<\/p>\n
Everyone in the country may be waiting for the decision on the
\nfuel hike -- so in New York, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nbriefed the Indonesian community on Friday evening about the
\nplan, in addition to results of his visit to the United States.<\/p>\n
The Indonesians, however, were more interested in asking him
\nabout the violent closure of several churches in Indonesia and
\nabout the controversial edicts issued recently by the Indonesian
\nUlema Council (MUI), which declared liberalism and pluralism as
\nharam, or forbidden under Islam.<\/p>\n
In explaining the fuel hike policy, Susilo said the government
\nhad no choice, as it could no longer afford the subsidies with
\nthe continuing increase in oil price. However, he expressed
\nconfidence that impacts of the price hike could be minimized for
\nthe poor, referring to the completion of a social welfare scheme
\ncreated specifically to protect the poor from the hike.<\/p>\n
\"I hope those who fully understand the rationale behind
\nincreasing the fuel price will not make statements that can
\nconfuse the public,\" said the President.<\/p>\n
Thirty percent of the Rp 530 trillion budget next year should
\nbe allocated toward the subsidy alone, he added.<\/p>\n
Susilo acknowledged the distribution of the social welfare
\nscheme was a huge task, as some 60 million people with an average
\nmonthly income of Rp 175,000 have been identified as being
\nentitled to the scheme.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the price hike would be implemented gradually,
\nalthough government officials are repeatedly pointing out the
\nincreasing budget deficit.<\/p>\n
Susilo did not mention whether he would announce his decision
\nnext month when Muslims enter Ramadhan, followed by Idul Fitri in
\nearly November and then Christmas and New Year. The government
\nusually avoids taking controversial decisions during the back-to-
\nback holiday season.<\/p>\n
\"I would feel sad for the 'little people' if the government
\nincreased the fuel price all at once,\" Susilo said, using the
\nIndonesian colloquialism for the poor.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a Protestant priest expressed his concern about the
\ngovernment's inability to stop violent closures of churches
\nacross the country by a Muslim groups that claimed to be the
\n\"true\" representatives of Islam. The priest also raised issue
\nabout the required permit to build a church, which was difficult
\nto obtain despite the freedom of religion guaranteed by the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Susilo responded with an assurance that he had ordered his
\nsubordinates to ensure that such violence would not be repeated.<\/p>\n
He also disclosed that he received a lot of text messages and
\nletters to protest both the closures of the churches and the MUI
\nedict, and that he had ordered Minister of Religious Affairs M.
\nMaftuh Basyuni to gather first-hand information on the MUI's
\nreason for issuing the edicts.<\/p>\n
\"Pluralism actually enriches our nation,\" stressed the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
In a separate meeting with Indonesian journalists, Susilo
\nconfirmed his plan to reshuffle the Cabinet in October, after he
\nhad completed the first year of his five-year term.<\/p>\n
\"I will dismiss underperforming ministers,\" he said,
\naccompanied by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal
\nBakrie and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-allays-concerns-of-ri-new-yorkers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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