NO MORE DEBT

NO MORE DEBT

JAKARTA: More than one thousand protesters from various non
governmental organizations (NGOs), grouped into the newly-formed
organization the Anti-Debt Coalition (KAU), staged on Wednesday
an anti-foreign debt rally, urging the government to stop talks
with the creditor nations of the Consultative Group on Indonesia
(CGI).

The coalition said that the talks, which are aimed at
satisfying the government's requests for fresh loans from the
CGI, would further burden the already battered Indonesian
economy.

"The government must refuse to talk about new loans, and start
demanding that Indonesia's current debt be written off," the
coalition said in a statement.

The rally began at 11 a.m. in front of Hotel Indonesia and
continued at the Bank Indonesia building in Jl. Thamrin, Central
Jakarta where the CGI members were meeting.

However, a veteran labor activist, Dita Indah Sari, admitted
that the possibility that the government would comply with their
demands was very slim.

"The government's prime concern now is to reschedule its old
debts and to obtain new loans to fill its massive budget
deficit," Dita said.

But, the new loans would spell greater burden for the
Indonesian people, she said.

Hundreds of farmers from Tasik, Garut, and Ciamis in West Java
also joined the rally. Sources said the demonstrations would
proceed until Thursday.