Dian Intannia, Jakarta – Around 30 student activists, rural workers and urban-poor activists from the United People's Alliance (Aliansi Rakyat Bersatu, ARB) are demanding that the government apply the concept of national industrialisation. The oppose the concepts of neoliberalism and global capitalism which is being applied by the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

This opposition was conveyed at demonstration held in front of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) building on Jalan Taman Suropati in Jakarta on Wednesday April 20.

"SBY should put into place a national industrialisation [program] based on [concepts of] independence, democracy, populism, modernism, transparency and internationalism", said ARB's public relations officer Lukman Hakim during break in the demonstration.

According to Hakim who is also a deputy-chairperson of the People's Democratic Party, to date the concepts which have been applied by the government such as investment by foreign capital have been unproductive. This has also occurred with the privatisation of state owned enterprises (BUMN).

He then gave as an example foreign investment in the mining field such as the gold mining firm PT Newmont Minahasa Raya which has had no positive influence on ordinary people and has instead has caused environmental damage. "SBY should put into place a people-orientated industrialisation which is based on domestic potential, not neoliberalism", he said.

SBY he continued, should be able to use the reconstruction of Aceh as a impetus for domestic industrialisation. If SBY was astute, he could use Aceh to reinvigorate domestic industries, where the development based on the Aceh blue-print for reconstruction can take advantage of domestic markets as the principle foundation.

This however said Hakim, can only occur under preconditions where a peaceful conditions must be created in Aceh. One of these is by implementing a cease-fire between the armed separatist Free Aceh Movement while at the same time pursuing diplomatic efforts.

During the action the alliance also demanded a meeting with Bappenas officials to convey their desires and to demand that the government put into place a social subsidy program to cover the people's basic needs such as subsidising energy, electricity, housing, agriculture, education and health care which the government is obliged to do.

They also called for abolishing contract labour and ending dismissals though a subsidy program, canceling the foreign debt, rejecting privatisation and the sale of state assets along with seizing the wealth of corrupters which could be taken to subsidise the needs of domestic industrialisation.

While the action was taking place, Bappenas officials headed by the state minister of national development planning and head of Bappenas, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, were actually in the middle of a meeting so only Bappenas' director of industry, Lucky Eko Wurdoyo, was prepared to meet with them later at 1pm. (umi)

[Translated by James Balowski.]