NGOs council salary hike

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Activists from four non-governmental organizations took to the streets here on Friday to protest a decision by the council to raise councillors' salaries.

"People are now suffering, but the councillors get Rp 7.5 million per month," a banner waved by the protesters read.

Another banner read, "We support you, Sukri," referring to Sukri Fadholi, a United Development Party (PPP) faction councillor who returned the Rp 2.6 million raise he received in his April salary.

Sukri said at that time he decided to return the salary increase because the hike had yet to be formalized.

The Yogyakarta councillor previously received a salary of between Rp 3 million and Rp 4 million per month.

After intensive meetings last month the councillors agreed to raise their own salary. However the decision has yet to be formalized by its inclusion in the provincial budget.

One of the protesters, Haris Immawan, said that by receiving such a big salary, Yogyakarta councillors were ignoring the plight of people in this small province.

The protesters hailed from the Yogyakarta Mosques' Youth Forum (FSRMY), HAMKA Force Forum (FSLHY), Forum for Women's Affairs (FPW) and Youth Front for People's Awareness (FPP Rakyat). (23)