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.