Lacking in consistency

Lacking in consistency

When the government submitted its draft state budget for the current fiscal year, among the things mentioned were salaries for civil servants and military personnel would be raised. To augment state revenues, government subsidies for fuel and electricity would be cut, which means their prices would increase.

However, when the government tried to implement these decisions, it was met with protests, demonstrations and even strikes. As a result, all these decisions have been delayed. The situation has been made worse as teachers -- who had earlier barred their students from staging demonstrations -- felt compelled to take to the streets to make their demands (for better pay) heard.

We quite understand the reason for these protests. They erupted because so many of the government's decisions appear ill- planned and are not being adequately explained to the people. Everything seems to be done in haste.

-- Republika, Jakarta