President laments criticism, fuel hike

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed concern on Thursday about public protests against his government's plan to raise fuel prices, a policy that many say will isolate him from people who voted for him last year.

"I am very sad that the government has been denounced for not doing enough for the poor in relation to the fuel price hike. Amid the silence of midnight, I always pray for our country, hoping that we will be given a way to pull out of this economic crisis and have a brighter future," Susilo said during a national best poultry exhibition in Pasuruan.

Susilo visited the East Java town while thousands of people took to streets across the country to put pressure on the government to back away from its fuel policy.

A weekly Cabinet meeting that he was supposed to lead on his return from East Java was canceled as hundreds of protesters occupied the entrance area of the State Palace in Jakarta.

Susilo said he personally did not want to increase fuel prices, but the tough decision was a must if the nation was to avert bankruptcy, from spending too much on the fuel subsidy.

"Indeed for a man like me who hails from a poor family, but now has to think hard to find ways to lead the country to prosperity, the criticism and (strong) comments have really made me sad," Susilo revealed.

The President called on the nation not to give up hope, despite the ongoing crisis.

"Let's work and develop the country together, rather than lash out at each other," he exhorted.

Earlier the President maintained that he was ready for staunch criticism and protests against his government's decision to increase fuel prices for the second time in six months. He also made it clear that he understood that civilized expressions of a difference of opinion were all part and parcel of a healthy democracy.

First Lady Kristiani Herawati, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono, Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari and Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo accompanied the President to the poultry fair.

Not everybody was impressed by Susilo's heartfelt sentiments. A group of students rallied near the exhibition in Candra Wilwatikta Park, demanding that the government cancel its plan. They claimed that people would suffer from the fuel policy.

The rally took place under a watchful gaze of the President's security cordon.

Another group of students had planned to block the President's convoy just outside Juanda airport in Surabaya, but they were outnumbered by local police officers, who eventually dispersed them without much challenge.