Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is questioning the government's plan to deploy Indonesian Army (TNI) personnel to public rallies against the upcoming fuel price increases.

"TNI is the state's armament and must not be used as a means to deal with a public who expresses its criticism toward government policies," Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar said in a press release on Tuesday.

Haris said that the government should have considered public response to its plan to increase fuel prices as likely, given that the policy will increase prices while the public, at the same time, will see no significant improvement in public services.

On Monday, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto invited top security officials to a meeting amid rumors that a massive rally would take place in the coming days and an unconfirmed report about a plot to topple President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The government says it is deciding between two policies aimed at preventing soaring global oil prices from further burdening the state budget, which provides subsidies. The options are: To raise subsidized fuel prices by Rp 1,500 (16 US cents) per liter, or to limit subsidies to Rp 2,000 per liter. At a price of Rp 4,500 per liter, fuel is currently subsidized by about Rp 3,500 per liter.

The hike is expected to come into effect on April 1, pending revision of the 2012 state budget, which is currently being deliberated upon by the government and the House of Representatives.