Iman Mahditama, Andreas D. Arditya, Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – With rallies against a government plan to raise fuel prices becoming increasingly violent, Jakarta Police revealed Friday that they have been preparing for widespread rioting in the city that could break out in the coming days.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Untung S. Rajab said that more than 4,000 police officers, along with 1,500 soldiers, would be deployed to prevent any protests from escalating into mass riots.

"Holding rallies and protests are allowed by the law, but we do not want the demonstrators to resort to vandalism," he told reporters at the police headquarters. The number of officers deployed would be nearly equal to amount mobilized during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Following a meeting with Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo at the City Hall later in the day, Untung said that an additional 20,000 officers would be prepared as a back up measure. "Should protesters resort to vandalism or violence during the rallies, we will arrest them and charge them according to their crimes," he said.

Untung also urged the city's transportation agency to act firmly against any public transportation drivers who veer from their designated routes to transport protesters to rallies. "If they violate their route permits, their operational licenses must be revoked," he said.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that the deployed forces would attempt to make sure that the rallies do not get out of control and ensure fuel distribution throughout the city. "Any attempt to seal fuel stations is liable for criminal charges," Rikwanto said. He urged the demonstrators not to disturb the public's sense of safety or security.

The government is planning to raise fuel prices by around 30 percent on April 1, in a bid to keep the state budget in a healthy position. Soaring global oil prices have strained the state's ability to pay for subsidies to keep retail fuel prices below the market values.

In the past, such plans have led to nationwide protests, some of which turned into big riots. In 1998, then-president Soeharto raised fuel prices by between 25 percent and 77 percent, sparking violent protests across the country that led to his downfall in May that year, after more than three decades in office.

In recent weeks, concerns have arisen that the price hikes would be used by disgruntled politicians and retired military generals to stir up public anger. Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto last week went as far as to hint that some people were planning a coup on the back of the price hike.

At a rally in Tangerang earlier this week, hundreds of factory workers forcefully shut down two nearby gas stations. The student protesters reportedly blocked a road, set fire to used tires and shut down a nearby gas station during the rally.

On Thursday night, Governor Fauzi was among leaders of all 33 provinces in the country who attended a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at his residence in Cikeas, West Java.

"The meeting was part of the government's efforts to raise awareness of the importance to increase fuel prices," Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha told The Jakarta Post on Friday. He added that the President wanted to make sure that all of the governors have same perception of fuel price policy as the central government.

"The President elaborated details on the recent challenges in the economy, currently faced by the government, in the hope that local leaders will totally understand the policy," Julian said.

Recent rallies against fuel-price hike plan

March 12

A group of protesters hijacked three Transjakarta buses on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta. They were believed to have been students who had rallied near the State Palace earlier in the day.

March 13

A clash between students and police officers occurred following a protest near the UKI campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta.

March 14

The Jakarta Police named six university students as suspects for allegedly tearing down a photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the House of Representatives.

Police arrested three members of the Islamic Students Association (HMI) during a rally near the HMI headquarters in Cikini, Central Jakarta. The protesters reportedly blocked the road and set alight used tires during the rally.