Students stage rallies over increase in fuel prices
Students stage rallies over increase in fuel prices
Jupriadi and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Makassar/Purwokerto
Once again, hundreds of students marched the streets in several
cities on Wednesday in protest of government plans to raise the
prices of fuel, as well as rates for electricity and telephone
use.
At least two groups of protesters demonstrated separately,
demanding that the government cancel its plans which they said
would only increase the many burdens already facing low-income
people.
The protesters said the government's reasons for the price
increases were not "proportionate" to the huge salaries -- along
with allowances and use of state facilities -- enjoyed by many
members of the country's political elite.
The government, the students added, should instead confiscate
the many ill-gotten gains of big-time corrupt politicians and
others via private and public entities before resorting to
raising fuel prices.
In South Sulawesi, hundreds of students from the Indonesian
Muslim University (UMI) urged the province's legislative council
to support their rejection of the increases: failure to do so,
they warned, will lead to further street protests.
A noisy protest in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar
brewed into a near clash between students and police after
demonstrators seized a fuel truck passing in front of their
campus on Jalan Urip Sumahardjo, Makassar.
The protesters forced the driver to take his truck, belonging
to state-owned oil company PT Pertamina, to the provincial
legislature.
After its arrival, a policeman grabbed the keys from the
driver as the students were staging a free-speech forum. Officers
also hid the driver.
The students then grew incensed, stoning the truck, which was
carrying around 15,000 liters of fuel, and threatening it set it
alight unless the police handed back the keys.
"Police have too much interference in our affairs -- It's an
insult," one orator told his crowd of fellow protesters.
The police finally relented to the students' demands and gave
the truck keys back.
When the students tried to commandeer the truck again,
however, the police fought to keep control of it. The ensuing
melee almost erupted into a massive brawl.
Tensions eased, however, after Makassar Police Chief Sr. Comr.
Amin Saleh intervened by inviting protesters to a dialogue. The
students later let the driver have his truck back.
Protest coordinator Muhammad Aris said that the truck seizure
was a reflection of the students' strong feelings on the issue of
price increases.
"You have to know that low-income people suffer
desperately ... while members of the political elite are playing
games," he said.
Aris also blasted police for refraining from taking firmer
actions against profiteering businessmen or officials who have
been hoarding kerosene to benefit from the higher fuel prices.
In Central Java, about 100 students from the Indonesian
National Student Movement (GMNI) also staged a similar protest on
Wednesday in the city of Purwokerto.
The protesters marched from their campus of the Jendral
Soedirman University at 9 a.m. and took to the city's streets,
shouting slogans against the higher fuel prices.
They later demonstrated at the Purwokerto legislature
building, adjacent to the local administration's office.
"Don't let the people suffer any further," said a statement
from the students.