Bloody Malari commemorated

Bloody Malari commemorated

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Around 500 protesters from two organizations (photo above)
staged a rally to commemorate the Malari incident, when police
killed 11 anti-Japan protesters in Jakarta on Jan. 15, 1974, and
to protest government plans to increase fuel and utility prices.

The protesters comprised the Committee for Anti-Labor
Oppression (KAPB), containing 25 labor unions and non-
governmental organizations, and the student executive board of
the University of Indonesia.

The protesters -- who marched from Hotel Indonesia to the
traffic circle near the State Palace in Central Jakarta --
criticized the government's plans to raise prices for fuel,
telephone and electricity this month. So far, only state-owned
electricity company PLN has done so.

KAPB also demanded the government apply the regional minimum
labor wage signed by the Jakarta administration last November.

KAPB spokeswoman Dita Indah Sari, a labor activist, said she
had planned to meet President Megawati Soekarnoputri to pursue
its demand.

However, the request was refused. A disappointed Dita told The
Jakarta Post that Megawati's government was just a photocopy of
former president Soeharto's New Order dictatorship.

"We are disappointed with Megawati. We sent an initial letter
to meet her. It shows that her government is similar to
Soeharto's regime," she said.

Central Jakarta chief police, Sr. Com. Edmond said he had
deployed one company of mobile brigade to monitor the protesters.

He regretted the groups did not inform police of their
intentions to protest but said it still tolerated the protest,
this time.