President laments criticism, fuel hike
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.