Students against fuel price hike

Students against fuel price hike

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Makassar students again took the
streets on Thursday protesting the planned fuel price hike due to
come into effect on Oct. 1 and warning President Abdurrahman
Wahid that the South Sulawesi people reject the policy.

The huge rally involved thousands of students from various
universities, including the Makassar State University (UNM), and
the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI). They toured the city on
trucks and motorcycles stopping off at the legislative council
and the state television TVRI building and "occupying" the
Pertamina (the state-owned oil and gas company) office. They
demanded that Pertamina refuse to increase fuel prices.

"This is to serve notice on President Abdurrahman Wahid that
we, the South Sulawesi people, reject the fuel price hike plan,"
Wahid Nara, the student spokesman, said.

"We also warn the Abdurrahman administration not to ignore
regional voices, or we will take to the streets in much larger
numbers."

Deputy speaker of the provincial legislative council Edy
Baramuli said the council had officially declared its opposition
to the proposed fuel price hike and that the students had
responded positively. "However, the students have the right to
express their opposition through a rally such as this."

The students lauded the council's decision on Wednesday.

They said the council's stance indicated that the regional
administration had the courage to go against central government
policies.

The government's plan to increase fuel prices is highly
unpopular and it is expected that it will trigger increases in
commodity prices. The plan has drawn strong protests from many
areas. (27/sur)