Medan/Makassar – Rallies against the government's fuel-price plans continued in several cities across the country on Saturday with the protesters targeting lawmakers.
The fuel-price hike that prompted nationwide rallies by university students and other civic groups over three consecutive days will not take effect on April 1 as initially sought by the government.
However, the protesters appeared to be irritated by the prospect that the hike would probably be unavoidable after lawmakers concluded their plenary session after midnight on Friday.
The protesters in Medan and Makassar were adamant on Saturday they rejected the hike, now or in the future. "We're against the fuel-price hike at any time. That's nonnegotiable," rally coordinator Jumeida said in Medan.
Some 300 people from various organizations joined the rally. The protesters vowed to continue to press the government into canceling the hike. Jumeida said the lawmakers' decision was farcical, made only to calm public anger.
Hendra Hidayat, chairman of the Muslim Students' Association (HMI) Medan branch said people wanted cancellation not postponement of the hike. "The House is being hypocritical and trying to fool the people," he said.
Medan has been one of the rallying venues across the country marred by vandalism. Governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho said his administration would go to campuses to hold dialogues with the students.
In Makassar, the rallying crowd accused lawmakers of betraying the people, seeing the House decision as akin to giving the government permission to raise fuel prices. "[President] SBY [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] – [Vice President] Boediono and the DPR [the House] are just the same. Both are betraying the people," shouted a protester.
In Surakarta, the city administration had to drop a plan to hold the Earth Hour campaign on Saturday evening following the escalating protests in the region over the past month.
Deputy Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo said he would not risk the event. "I just don't want any irresponsible individuals damaging stability in the city by making use of the Earth Hour movement," he said.