People's reaction to the utility price rises will likely

People's reaction to the utility price rises will likely
continue and even escalate. Eight days after the government
announced increases in fuel prices and electricity and telephone
rates, businesspeople and workers have demonstrated on the
streets of the capital and other cities in the country.

Under normal circumstances, businesspeople and workers have
little in common; businesspeople are notorious penny-pinchers
with their "tight-money" policies, while workers tend to demand
higher wages. Their participation in street demonstrations is due
to the fact that the increases affect their lives.

The government remains adamant with its controversial
decision. The escalating protests have yet to deter the
executive, who said that the decision to impose the increases
were acknowledged or approved by the House of Representatives
(DPR). Therefore -- according to the government -- it is the
House that should respond to the mounting pressure to annul the
decision.

On the other hand, the House said it was the government that
decided when the decision would be made public. The government
needs to take the initiative in responding to people's
complaints.

It is obvious that both the executive and the legislature are
trying to wash their hands of the situation. Then who does the
government and the House represent?

Something has to be done to resolve the situation, which could
make a turn for the worse.

-- Republika, Jakarta