Makassar students renew protest

Makassar students renew protest

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Fifty students of the Indonesian
Muslim University (UMI) put on a theater roadshow in Makassar on
Tuesday as part of a renewal of their protest against the
government's plan to raise fuel prices and electricity rates.

The drama show, including pantomimes expressing the hard life
of low income people, was performed by UMI's student art workshop
members in a long march from one campus to another.

The students rejected the plan because "it will surely bring
suffering to the people, particularly with the subsequent general
price hike," a show leader asserted.

Last week the students blocked roads to mark the start of
their protest and vowed to continue blocking them until the
government had canceled its plan.

But the House of Representatives has agreed the government's
plans to increase fuel prices by an average of 30 percent, and
electricity rates by 17.47 percent.

The government's decision to raise fuel prices prompted taxi
companies to seek local legislative and executive approval of
increased taxi fares.

Makassar Taxi Association chairman Rahman AT said, after
discussion with relevant parties, that he hoped that the rise in
taxi rates would be implemented to cover the running costs of at
least 1,800 cabs in the city. (27)