Jakarta – Hundreds of university students from Jakarta and Banten organized rallies on Thursday to demand that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's government immediately act to ease pressures caused by the economic slowdown, such as increases in the price of basic commodities.

"We demand that the government control food prices, fight against food mafias and protect local workers," said Erizal, a field coordinator of the demonstration, as he organized protesters on the streets near the National Monument (Monas).

Similar remarks were made by spokesperson for the University of Indonesia's Student Executive Board (BEM UI) Rizki Khaerul. He called on the President to crack down the so called "food mafias" that have caused several food commodity prices to jump.

The students denied rumors reported by tribunnews.com that their action was part of an effort to force President Jokowi to step down. "No. There is no objective of demanding that the President step down," said Denny Yussuf, one of the participants in the demonstration.

He said that such rumors had spread among the students on Wednesday evening, allegedly coming from people wanting to foil Thursday's action. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/10/hundreds-students-hold-street-rally.html