Jakarta braces for protests over fuel price increases
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city administration moved swiftly on Monday to anticipate possible violent protests over the government's plan to raise fuel prices by an average of 29 percent.
Governor Sutiyoso said more than 13,000 security personnel from the city police, public order agency and the military were already on alert to prevent any possible protests from degenerating into mass riots.
"We prefer to use persuasive methods in dealing with protesters but we will not rule out tougher measures," Sutiyoso said here on Monday.
"Any party is allowed to organize demonstrations, but we do not want any chaos in the city," he said after chairing a meeting attended by council Speaker Ade Surapriatna, city police chief Ins. Gen. Firman Gani, and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Agustadi Sasongko.
The number of security personnel on alert will be about the same number deployed during the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Swimming against the tide of opposition from legislators, political parties, students, non-governmental organizations and the general public, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to raise fuel prices by an average of 29 percent on Tuesday.
In 1998, former president Soeharto raised fuel prices by between 25 percent and 77 percent, sparking violent protests across the country that led to his downfall in May that year after more than three decades in office.
Already on Monday, students and non-governmental organizations took to the streets to protest the planned increase of fuel price, causing traffic congestion along the city's thoroughfares.
Gari Primandana of the University of Indonesia's Student Executive Body (BEM-UI) said students would return to the streets on Tuesday to try to force the government to abandon the increase.
Sutiyoso said Monday's meeting was called to discuss efforts to prevent violence during demonstrations. He called on Jakarta residents not to be easily provoked.
Meanwhile, Firman Gani said several student organizations and four non-governmental organizations had notified the police of their plans to hold protests against the fuel price hikes.
He said the organizers had agreed not to damage state symbols, including the photographs of the President, during the demonstrations.
"Police will not take any measures against demonstrators as long as they do not violate the criminal codes and other regulations," he said, adding that the students and non- governmental organizations would stage protests at the National Monument Park, the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and the House of Representatives building on Jl. Gatot Subroto.
Student groups taking part in Monday's protests included the Indonesian Muslim Students Association (KAMMI), the Greater Jakarta Students Executive Bodies (BEMs), Jakarta Students Action Union (KAM Jakarta) and the Advocacy Studies Institute for Indonesian Democracy (LSA-DI).