Fuel price increase met with massive demos
Fuel price increase met with massive demos
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Nationwide protests on Tuesday greeted the government's decision
to raise fuel prices, but a heavy police presence helped prevent
the demonstrations from turning violent.
More than 3,000 students gathered in front of the State Palace
in Central Jakarta to denounce the price increases. Hundreds of
riot officers and a large banner urging the protesters to remain
peaceful welcomed the students.
Dozens of University of Indonesia students forced their way
into state radio station RRI and took over the airwaves to
broadcast their opposition to the fuel policy, which they said
demonstrated the arrogance of the government.
They said the price increases were untimely because poverty
remained prevalent in the country, especially in tsunami-
devastated Aceh.
"The present regime has no sense of crisis. It has made this
controversial decision despite the hardships faced by people in
Aceh and many other regions," a student said in his broadcast.
Thousands of other students marching to the State Palace
called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President
Jusuf Kalla to step down.
Traffic backed up along the main streets leading to the palace
as a result of the demonstrations.
The government announced the fuel price increases late on
Monday, after almost four months of delay. The government
promised it would redirect Rp 10.5 trillion (US$1.14 billion) of
the Rp 20.3 trillion saved from slashing the fuel subsidy into
programs to assist the poor.
In Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, thousands of
students gathered in front of the provincial legislature to
demand the councillors oppose the fuel price hikes.
Several councillors told the students they would discuss their
demands during a plenary session and forward the results of their
discussion to the central government.
Protesters hijacked a fuel truck and refused to let it leave
the campus of Muhammadiyah University. Other protesters sealed
off a gas station in the town, but the protest ended after
hundreds of riot police were called in.
Students blocked off several roads in the town with burning
tires.
Makassar was the scene of several incidents involving police
and demonstrators last year, including a police raid on a
university campus.
Students and bus drivers in Palu, Kendari and Manado,
all in Sulawesi, took to the streets to protest the government's
decision, leaving thousands of people stranded as public
transportation came to a halt.
Demonstrators received political support from provincial and
regency legislative councils.
In Cirebon and Bandung, West Java, students and bus drivers
hit the streets to denounce the fuel price increases.
Some protesters in Cirebon set tires on fire, causing traffic
jams throughout the town.
Hundreds of police officers were deployed to guard West Java's
north coast road to ensure the movement of basic commodities from
Jakarta to West, Central and East Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara
was not disturbed.
In Semarang, Central Java, bus fares were raised by an average
of 6 percent following the fuel price increases.
Thousands of protesters in Medan, North Sumatra, called on
residents to refuse to pay their taxes, electricity and water
bills in response to the government's fuel policy.
Robert Sihombing, the rally coordinator, warned President
Susilo of a loss of public confidence over his broken campaign
promises.
Residents in Pekanbaru, Riau, took the government's
announcement in stride, saying the decision was expected.
The city remained quiet and it was business as usual for
residents.
"We have to accept the hike. What else can we do? Protests
will not bring about change," a resident, Hendra Asril, said.