Fuel protests mark Women's Day
Fuel protests mark Women's Day
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Makassar/Cirebon
While women in other parts of the world launched rallies to
demand equal rights in commemorating International Women's Day on
Tuesday, women here launched protests nationwide against the
recent fuel price hike.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, about 100 women gathered to
protest the price increase in front of the local council's
compound.
The protesters, most of whom were housewives and mature-aged
women, said the policy affected them the most as they were
responsible for managing household spending.
They said the government needed to be more serious in its
battle against corruption instead of cutting the fuel subsidy.
The government earlier this month raised fuel prices by an
average of 29 percent, as oil prices on the international market
soared to record levels. The President said the country's economy
was on the verge of collapse under the weight of the fuel
subsidy.
Although the government has promised to provide compensation
for poor families in the form of free education, health services,
cheaper rice, and subsidized public transportation fares, many
remain opposed to the unpopular policy. Some lawmakers have even
planned to launch an investigation into the policy.
In Semarang, Central Java, dozens of women activists grouped
in a non-governmental organization called the Women and
Children's Care Network also staged an anti-fuel hike rally.
Carrying various kitchen tools, the women accused President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Yusuf Kalla of
lacking sensitivity toward Indonesian women who would bear the
brunt of the fuel price hike.
"The government has adopted capitalism, which of course,
affects the people's welfare. Such a policy will only restrict
women's access to basic needs, such as health, education,
clothing and housing," said Eva, one of the protesters.
"I wonder why the government has failed to eradicate
corruption among officials working with Pertamina," she said,
referring to state oil and gas company PT Pertamina.
Meanwhile, students nationwide continued to rally against the
fuel hike policy. In Indramayu regency, West Java, protesters
blockaded the main gates of Pertamina's marketing unit in
Balongan. The students also burned tires.
Meanwhile, academics from two noted universities in Makassar
warned people of efforts by the government to blow up the ongoing
border dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia in a bid to divert
the people's attention away from the unpopular fuel hike policy
issue.
Arief Wicaksono, a lecturer from Hasanudin University, also
feared that the military might use the border dispute issue to
demand a higher defense budget by using part of the money saved
from cutting the fuel subsidy.
"I guess it is not a coincidence if the Ambalat issue (the
border dispute case) has suddenly surfaced amid various protests
against the government's policy on fuel prices," Arief said as
quoted by Antara.