Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The country's largest opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), is set to mobilize movements and conduct any form of possible measures to protest the government's plan to increase the price of subsidized fuel on April 1.

The party's central executive board has issued a circular sent to all party offices down to the district level, which contains instructions to intensify measures against the fuel price increase, PDI-P secretary general Tjahjo Kumolo said on Saturday.

"We have ordered all PDI-P lawmakers and regional councilors to distribute the protest messages within their constituencies; for example by using banners and posters," Tjahjo said.

"All party's structural bodies, including wing organizations across the nation, have also been instructed to conduct peaceful rallies to deliver our political stance on the fuel price policy, including the argumentation behind it, to regional leaders and the heads of regional councils."

"We always believe there are numerous possible options, other than increasing fuel prices that will burden the poor"

The government has faced growing opposition from the public, which has rejected the plan to implement an early-revision to the 2012 state budget to accommodate an increase in the subsidized-fuel price by Rp 1,500 (17 US cents) a liter to Rp 6,000 from the current Rp 4,500.

The government has argued the plan will be inevitable given the heightened tension in the Middle East that resulted in the increase of global oil prices. (swd)