Ex-political bigwigs meet again

Ex-political bigwigs meet again

Several bygone politicians meet for a fourth time in recent
months to discuss the current government's fuel policy; this time
at the residence of former House of Representatives speaker Akbar
Tandjung on Jl. Purnwawarman, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

The meeting on Thursday was attended byformer president
Megawati Soekarnoputri, former chief
security minister Wiranto, former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur"
Wahid, former vice president Try Sutrisno and Akbar Tandjung.

They urged the government to drop its plan to increase fuel
prices, saying it would only create difficulties for the people.

The former national leaders warned President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono of impending social instability if the government
proceeded with the fuel hike plan, as public protests were
continuing against it across the country.

The government has said it would raise fuel prices by at least
50 percent early next month in a bid to help ease the burden of
the state budget in covering the increasingly expensive fuel
subsidy amid rising international oil prices.

During their previous gathering, the semi-retired politicians
also called on the government to refrain from raising fuel
prices. --JP