Consumers still ignorant of their rights, say activists

Consumers still ignorant of their rights, say activists

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 up at the venue of the
gathering, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

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 has, however, encouraged housewives
not to be disheartened by the fact that only a few were eager to
support them. The foundation 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."

Ichsan said the foundation would keep backing them as it was
important to show to the public that they could claim their
rights once deprived by businessmen.

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
and its government-appointed board of commissioners 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 state-owned oil and gas 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.

The class action suit was first filed in February by the Kapak
LPG, a coalition of 20 lawyers from YLKI, the Jakarta Chapter of
the Legal Aid Institute, the Indonesian Law Association, the
Indonesian Legal Aid Center and the Indonesian Center for
Environment Law.