Jakarta – Indonesian activists vowed yesterday to hold more protests against recent price rises despite government promises to delay some increases and review others.

The protests, which erupted this month and have sometimes been violent, may worry donors and investors and affect fund flows to the world's fourth most populous nation.

However, they seem unlikely so far to threaten President Megawati Sukarnoputri's hold on office.

"We will have a protest on Monday in front of the presidential palace," Ms Dita Indah Sari, head of the Indonesian National Labour Struggle Front, said.

The protests started at the beginning of this month when the government announced increases in telephone, fuel and power prices aimed at reducing state subsidies in line with economic reforms agreed with the International Monetary Fund.

Promising more protest activity also is Mr Richo Marbun, head of the BEM (Student Executive Body) at the University of Indonesia, who said the demonstrations would get bigger. "In the days ahead, the movement will escalate," he said.

A week ago, the President defended the policies as necessary to wean Indonesia from foreign debt, saying: "I chose an unpopular but constructive policy for the long run rather than opting for a populist step that may trouble us further."

But a few days later, as thousands continued protests in cities around the country, the government said it was delaying phone charge increases and would re-examine the other hikes. However, the moves cut little ice with the protest leaders, whose demands have gone beyond unwinding the price hikes and now centre on Ms Megawati's leadership and economic policy in general.

Mr Marbun said: "The government delayed the phone charges hike indefinitely, but that is not the solution that we want ... the objection from the students is no longer to the policy but more to Megawati now."

While some of the protests have involved tens of thousands in more than a dozen cities, the numbers have often fallen short of forecasts and threats of civil disobedience have failed to materialise.

In 1998, price increases triggered widespread protests, a factor in unrest leading to the downfall of then president Suharto. But many analysts doubt anything similar will happen this time.

Ms Dita said: "Even if the government revises its decision on fuel, it still has not resolved other economic problems. What we want ... is not only the annulment of the fuel price rise, but the entire economic reform package, such as asset sales, foreign debts, trade liberalisation, etc."

She was referring to policies some foreign donors and investors say Indonesia needs but which many in the country oppose for their real and feared impact on inflation, unemployment and existing social structures.