Jakarta – Activists throughout Indonesia will change their strategy in the war against the government, which they say is issuing policies that bring suffering to the people. They will no longer wage war in a spontaneous manner, but unit to fight against government policies that fail to side with the poor.

This will be realised at an Inter-Generational Activists Meeting (Tali Generasi) at the Proclamation Monument in Central Jakarta on June 23-25. Around 4,000 activists will use the opportunity to hold a discussion to decide on a position to take on government policies, particularly the recent increase in the price of fuel.

“Not only that, they will also be inviting the mass base from throughout Indonesia, including among others from Jakarta, Bogor, Cirebon, Cianjur, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Jambi and Makassar. We, will use this opportunity to invite all the universities in Jakarta that number some 126 campuses, members of the DPR [House of Representatives], SMU [State High School] students, workers and farmers”, said 1998 activist Adian Napitupulu in a press statement in Jakarta on Sunday June 15.

According to Napitupulu, the forum will take up three programs – the fuel price increases, the fight for oil and gas assets and the overthrow of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Napitupulu said he was positive that the forum would bring change to the country. “If [we] were not positive, we would not hold the meeting”, he added.

The series of events on July 23 will start with an open discussion with speakers such as Eros Djarot, Bondan Gunawan, Ratna Sarumpaet, Fadjroel Rachman and Kwik Kian Gie. In the afternoon this will be followed by political speeches by movement figures from various generations.

The series of events on July 23 will start with an open discussion with speakers such as Eros Djarot, Bondan Gunawan, Ratna Sarumpaet, Fadjroel Rachman and Kwik Kian Gie. In the afternoon this will be followed by political speeches by movement figures from various generations.

On June 24, they will [discuss] what steps will be undertaken to confront future events that will take place in Indonesia. “Weather the meeting decides to again occupy the DPR like in 1998, or in fact besiege the Palace for several days or whatever the decision, thousands of activist will make the decision, with of course an ethical contract, not to return home until change has taken place!”, he explained.

[Translated by James Balowski.]