The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) will soon increase,

The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) will soon increase,
says Ridwan Nyak Baik, spokesman for the state-owned oil and gas
company Pertamina.

The price increase in LPG will certainly affect millions of
consumers, however, Pertamina's decision on the hike is based on
the fact that the people's economy is recovering and the rupiah
is getting stronger against the dollar, according to Ridwan.

Ridwan said that Pertamina should have increased the price of
LPG three years ago, but the plan had to be delayed because the
people's economic burden was so great at that time.

Pertamina's decision, however, evoked a strong reaction from
the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), which described the
decision as a ridiculous and unpopular move.

Muhamad Ihsan, a YLBHI official in charge of public
complaints, said that legal proceedings against the previous
increase had not yet been settled at the Supreme Court. The
complaint was lodged by a non-governmental organization opposed
to the LPG increase in February 2003. Therefore, Pertamina is
harassing the law by deciding to increase (again) the LPG price,
he said.

We can only lament upon hearing the planned increase in the
price of LPG. People, who have just been stunned by the increase
in toll road fees, electricity and telephone charges, and public
transport fees, will soon be further burdened by the new LPG
price.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta