Telephone kiosks suspend service in Pekanbaru
Telephone kiosks suspend service in Pekanbaru
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Telephone kiosk operators in Pekanbaru, Riau have suspended their
services, while fishermen in Makassar, South Sulawesi have
stopped fishing following the government's decision to increase
telephone charges and to remove the fuel subsidy.
Yanti, one of telephone kiosk operators in Pekanbaru, told
Antara on Saturday that most telephone providers had temporarily
closed their outlets to avoid losses after the government
increased telephone rates on the first day of 2003.
She said she would ask a mechanic to adjust the counter with
the new rate before reopening her kiosk.
"If we apply the old rate, we will only incur a loss," Yanti
was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.
Another telephone kiosk operator, Sarmi, said on Saturday that
she had closed services in the last few days while waiting for a
mechanic to adjust her billing counter.
Sarmi converted her home phone line into a public telephone to
help augment her family income. She installed a counter to know
how much money her consumers should pay for the service. Many
residents in her neighborhood did the same thing.
"I have been calling up the technician to reset my counters
but they have not come yet," Sarmi said.
Meanwhile, fishermen in Makassar have stopped fishing and
started joining street protests against the government's decision
to remove the fuel subsidy which until recently kept the
commodity's price low.
Hundreds of fishermen residing along the coastal area in the
municipality of Makassar and in Pangkep regency protested against
the price hike.
Nawawi, a fishermen in Paotere, Makassar, said on Saturday
that the increase in diesel fuel had multiplied operational
costs.
"We have agreed to stage rallies against the fuel price hike.
The price hike places more burden on the people," Nawawi was
quoted by Antara as saying.
He said most fishermen would stop fishing and seek work as
construction workers or pedicab drivers if the government did not
annul its decision.
Fishermen in Jakarta and along the northern coast of Java have
also stopped fishing due to fuel price hike.
The government increased telephone and electricity charges and
removed the fuel subsidy, with the exception of household
kerosene, on Jan. 1 in order to finance the country's budget and
reduce deficit.
Students and labor activists, however, have staged protests
almost daily to demand that the government annul its decision,
arguing that it was too burdensome for low-income earners.
The government, however, maintains that such increases are
part of its efforts to reduce its dependence on the International
Monetary Fund.
Head of PT Telkom public relations division in Pekanbaru
Junaidi said on Saturday that he did not know the number of
telephone kiosks in Pekanbaru.
"We don't know the number because the owners of telephone
kiosks do not register at the office unlike telecommunication
stalls or wartel," he added.