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