Peace reached in Makassar

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The tension between the students of the state Islamic Institute (IAIN) Alaudin and Governor HZB Palaguna ended on Thursday after Palaguna apologized for the chaos triggered by civil servants during the students' demonstration against the fuel price hike.

The "peace" was followed by an agreement by the governor and IAIN rector Abdul Muin's to establish a joint team to control commodity prices at markets.

The meeting between the students and the governor was held at the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) building.

Palaguna said in the meeting that protesting the fuel price hike was understandable. "But the problem is that the increase in price of other goods, including food items, is out of our hands. This will be burdensome to the people."

Rector Muin Salim, who promised to step down if Palaguna refused to apologize to the students, said that the joint team would soon carry out surveys and operations to monitor prices of goods sold at the markets.

Meanwhile, student demonstrations continued peacefully in Makassar on Thursday.

Iswari Al Farisy, a student figure, said a dialog between the central government and the South Sulawesi administration on the fuel price hike was badly needed.

"There must be a compromise in the dialog to avoid further uproar," he said, explaining that the South Sulawesi people were firm in their rejection of the fuel price hike while the (central) government can't go back on its decision.

The students' demonstration had turned violent on Tuesday and Wednesday when students and civil servants clashed. (27/sur)