Hundreds of students have held street rallies across Indonesia to protest swingeing government increases on fuel prices by an average of nearly 30 percent.
Protests took place in at least six Indonesian cities and towns, radio and television reports showed, as anger mounted over the government's decision to raise fuel costs.
Scattered protests took place in Jakarta and Makassar in South Sulawesi, while rallies were also reported in Surabaya and Malang in East Java, Semarang, Central Java, and Bandung in West Java.
In an announcement televised nationwide late Monday, senior economy minister Abu Rizal Bakrie said the increase would ensure a better future for all.
Bakrie said the government was forced to act after spending some 61 trillion rupiah (6.4 billion dollars) on subsidies last year as world oil prices soared.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the government will compensate by providing more direct targeted assistance to the poor.
National Police Chief General Da'i Bachtiar has said that the police has placed two-thirds of its officers on standby in case of violence.
In Jakarta, more than 13,000 police, soldiers and city personnel were readied in anticipation of the protests, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has said.
Protests and strikes by public transport drivers were reported in South Jakarta, Bogor in West Java and in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, to demand higher public transport fares.
Some public transport operators were reported to have unilaterally raised their fares, some by up to 50 percent, listeners told the ElShinta radio.
But the government, which sets the ceiling price for public transportation fares, has said it would only allow a 10 percent raise.
Prices of essentials and non-essential goods have already increased in several Jakarta markets on Monday as traders anticipated the fuel price hike.
Under the new system, kerosene for industrial use was increased 400 rupiah to 2,200 rupiah (23.76 cents) per liter while fuel oil rose 47.44 percent to 2,300 rupiah (24.84 cents) per liter.
Premium gasoline was increased 32 percent to 2,400 rupiah (25.92 cents) per litre, with diesel raised 27-39 percent to between 2,100 rupiah and 2,300 rupiah (22.68 and 24.84 cents) depending on use – transport or industrial.
The price of kerosene, mainly used by low-income families for cooking and so a very sensitive commodity, was not raised and remained at 700 rupiah (7.5 cents) per liter.