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Fuel rises spark demonstrations

Source
Detik - October 1, 2000

DSB, DS & TS/GB, Jakarta – The increase in fuel prices, effective today Sunday 1 October 2000, have sparked demonstrations across Indonesia while the President has called on the people not to be 'reactive'. A massive national demonstration is planned for 10 October.

Labour leaders Dita Indah Sari and Mochtar Pakpahan lead a 'long march' of 500-odd demonstrators from the Indonesian Unions' Solidarity Forum (FSUI) to the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta. The Forum, comprising 18 unions demanded the price rises be dropped and a 100% rise in the minimum wage, slightly over US$ 1.20 a day in Jakarta which has the highest rate according to a new regionally differentiated system passed by the government.

Earlier, the group came from the 'Proclamation Monument' where hundreds of other demonstrators from NGOs and student groups had gathered to reject the price rises.

Representatives of the action, which in the end gathered together 26 organisations, were received at the Palace by the Minister for Transmigration and Manpower, Al Hilal Hamdi, for 10 minutes. He reiterated that the price rises would stay in place. The demonstrators then returned to the 'Proclamation Monument' vowing to hold a national day of action on 10 October.

Meanwhile, from Chile where President Abdurrahman Wahid is currently visiting on another of his whirlwind round-the-world jaunts, he has asked the people of Indonesia not to go over the top in their reactions to the increases.

"I implore the people to be calm, study the problem carefully. The people must respect the endeavor and for the poor we have already prepared subsidies. So because of that, I hope the people won't have too much of a reaction," he said.

The government has prepared Rp 800 billion for subsidies for the underprivileged although doubts remain about the distribution, due to Indonesia's endemic corruption, and the effectiveness of channeling the money through three Ministries. Price hikes were to be introduced in April but were later postponed after mass demonstrations and the government recognised its unpreparedness.

Despite the time lapse, many politicians are now claiming the government failed to alert the general public about the rises, its impact and the scheme for distributing subsidies.

The President also stressed that the price increases were agreed by the government. "This plea from those who don't agree to the price rises, we respect. But in a comprehensive sense, the cabinet has decided. Last night at 7 before the prices were increased, there was a meeting of the Vice President, Minister for Energy, Chief of Police, Coordinating Ministers and the decision was made. I hope it is respected," he added.

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