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)