Jakarta braces for protests over fuel price increases

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).