Calls mount for Megawati to resign over utility hikes

Calls mount for Megawati to resign over utility hikes

Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government's decision to hike fuel, electricity and telephone
charges has drawn a strong public rejection, with many protesters
demanding President Megawati Soekarnoputri step down.

Hundreds of students of the South Sulawesi capital of
Makassar, Jakarta, and residents of the East Java capital of
Surabaya staged rallies on Friday demanding that Megawati stop
causing more suffering for the people, and that she quit her
post.

"Megawati must step down from the presidency because of her
inability to lead this country. Instead of bringing this country
out of hardship, she is actually bringing more despair to the
people through her policies," a student from the Makassar State
University said as quoted by Antara.

The rally was held in front of the South Sulawesi provincial
legislative building.

In Surabaya, dozens of residents marched along city
thoroughfares, unfurling banners and holding aloft posters
condemning Megawati's policies. Several of them pushed a minivan,
with a motorcycle on board, symbolizing the people's inability to
use their vehicles anymore due to the fuel price hike.

"Mbak (older sister) Mega has been oppressive to the common
people. We will revoke our support for her leadership if she
continues implementing her policies," one of the protesters said,
while referring to the President by her nickname.

Some of the posters read, "We cannot afford to buy fuel",
"Mbak Mega, don't add to our difficulties as we are already
living in hardship", and "Fair and prosperous does not equal
price hikes".

Students from Greater Jakarta grouped under the Forum Kota,
urged the public to fight against the regime and demanded that
Megawati, Vice President Hamzah Haz, People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, and House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tandjung quit their respective posts.

The government increased electricity and telephone charges on
Wednesday, and fuel prices the following day. The move is part of
the efforts to reduce expensive government subsidies and help
save ailing utility companies from bankruptcy.

The increase in utility rates is a sensitive issue that could
provoke people to unite in a movement against the regime.

Students have proven their power in overthrowing authoritarian
president Soeharto in 1998 after the regime introduced unpopular
economic policies.

Students movement this time won the support of nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) and other members of society, including
political parties.

Some NGOs like Government Watch (GOWA), the Indonesian
Consumers' Foundation (YLKI), Indonesian Women's Coalition (IWC),
and the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) have
also expressed their indignation over the hikes in utility
charges on Friday.

GOWA coordinator Farid R. Faqih urged Indonesian families,
especially those from the middle and lower income groups, to
launch a national strike against the policy.

Separately, YLKI chairwoman Indah Suksmaningsih said the state
had committed violence against the people by implementing such
policies and suggested that the public be courageous in
expressing their views over what she termed such inhumane and
unjust policies.

Many housewives across the country have locked their phones at
home since Wednesday in a bid to control household expenses
following the hike in phone charges.

"You can imagine how much I'll have to pay for the phone bill
now given that before the increase I was already spending Rp
300,000 (US$33) per month on it. I'm afraid my family will not be
able to eat," said a mother in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

The government's controversial move has also encouraged some
political parties to court public favor over the price hike
issue.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) said people were entitled
to go on a national strike to reject the simultaneous increases
in utility charges.

Deputy chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) A.M. Fatwa
said on Friday that the price hikes would inflict even more
suffering on the people as their purchasing power was already
low.

Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung, however, asked people
not to launch a national strike as it would only make them suffer
even more.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla said
the public should take control over the use of the subsidy fund
worth Rp 4 trillion generated from the utility charge hikes.