People demand lower prices

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hundreds of people from all walks of life gathered in Merdeka field here yesterday to demand lower prices of essentials.

Grouped in the alliance of the North Sumatra reform movement (Agresu), protesting students, farmers, workers and fishermen blasted former president Soeharto's New Order government for producing numerous policies which exploited people.

The protesters waved banners and posters which, among other things, called on the government to punish officials involved in corruption, collusion and nepotism.

To save the nation, Agresu said in a statement that there was nothing else to do except to commit to "total reform", reform that must sweep the entire nation from the upper most government level to the lowest. (21)