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.