Consumers remain ignorant of their rights

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite having won the class action lawsuit recently against state-run oil and gas company Pertamina, consumers remain ignorant over their rights, as revealed in a discussion organized by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) on Saturday.

The organization had sent some 150 invitations to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers to discuss the follow up of the verdict, but less than 20 people showed.

It is hard for consumers to be united because many were skeptical about efforts made to fight for their rights against companies, especially those that were large and influential, said Sri Lisnawati, a housewife from Tangerang.

"My neighbors know that I was one of those who filed this lawsuit and I had distributed invitations to my neighbors to attend today's gathering. They said they would come but at the last minute, none of them showed up," Lisnawati added.

Lies Sugeng from Sawangan, Depok, had even chartered cars as transportation and prepared snacks for her neighbors to attend the meeting but none of them were willing to confirm their participation.

"Some were even cynical about the class action," Lies said, adding that many did not understand that the rights of consumers were protected by law.

Since Law No 8/1999 on consumer protection came into effect, the LPG case has been the first class action won by consumers.

Muhammad Ichsan from YLKI estimated there were some 200,000 LPG consumers in Greater Jakarta.

"In front of us there is still a long struggle. We have to consolidate and stick together until what we fight for is obtained," he said.

Even though YLKI won the class action suit, the decision could not be immediately executed because Pertamina had appealed.

On Oct. 9, Central Jakarta District Court found that Pertamina had acted unlawfully in increasing the price of liquefied gas without first fully informing LPG consumers about the hike.

The court ordered Pertamina to revoke last November's decision to raise the price of LPG by 40 percent from Rp 1,500 to Rp 2,100 per kilogram.

The company was also told to compensate class members to the tune of Rp 144,000 per month in material losses and pay Rp 16,000 to every person who could prove that they were LPG consumers in Greater Jakarta.