Activists threaten major strikes

Activists threaten major strikes

JAKARTA: Labor activists threatened on Tuesday to stage a major strike, should the government insist on defying the numerous nationwide protests against fuel price hikes.

"We will mobilize the masses to block toll roads and go on a labor strike in all sectors," labor activist leader Dita Indah Sari said in a speech to a demonstration at the Hotel Indonesia Circle, Central Jakarta.

"We will try to prove who is more powerful -- be it they at the State Palace, the House of Representatives or we on the street," she said.

Dita said workers in several seaports had already struck to protest against the government decision on Oct. 1 to raise the fuel prices by an average of 126 percent.

"If our protests are still not heeded, we will close the toll road with containers, so the presidential motorcade cannot pass through," she said. --Antara