Jakarta – Around 200 workers demonstrated in front of the Jakarta World Bank offices on Sunday May 1. The protesters, who came from the National Liberation Front (FPN) started the protest at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta then organised a convoy to the World Bank offices at the Jakarta Stock Exchange building.
News
June 2008
Sofian, Jakarta – Protest actions opposing the recent fuel price hike look set to continue. Based on data from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC) there will be at least three demonstrations related to the fuel prices on Sunday June 1.
May 2008
Jakarta – Around 500 workers, children and housewives protested at the offices of the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare in Jakarta on Thursday May 29 against the recent fuel price hikes.
Sugihono, Jakarta – Apparently with the firm intention of supporting an action opposing the recent fuel price increases at the State Palace in Central Jakarta, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Permadi was instead turned away by protesters.
Didi Syafirdi, Jakarta – Beep...! Beep....! The sound of vehicles beeping at each other reverberated along Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta. It was total gridlock from the Horse Statue to the State Palace as hundreds of workers and students prepared to descend upon the State Palace.
Joniansyah, Tangerang – More than 18 thousand employees from various companies in the Jakarta satellite city of Tangerang are now unemployed. They lost their jobs because the companies where they worked closed down.
TMC/Ibnu R., Jakarta – Protest actions and public transport strikes will colour various parts of the capital today, Wednesday May 28.
Anwar Khumaini, Jakarta – Student demonstrations against the recent fuel price increases are moving towards anarchic acts involving frequent clashes with police. There are indications that foreign intelligence agencies are using the protests for their own ends.
[The following is a compilation of abridged translations of demonstrations across Indonesia against the government's fuel price increase on May 22.]
Two students in Ambon arrested for burning pictures of Yudhoyono
Umi Kulsum – Indonesia’s 100th National Awakening day, which fell on May 20, was noisily celebrated at the Bung Karno Sports Stadium during a ceremony led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In the president’s speech he said that Indonesia is a capable nation that can change its fortunes and confront the energy and food crisis.
Irwan Nugroho, Jakarta – The police attack on the University of Indonesia campus this morning has left those who witnessed it dumb founded after they watched hundreds of police officers surround some 50 or so students, who were then beaten, stripped naked and forced into trucks.
Indra Subagja, Jakarta – As soon as the price of fuel was officially increased at 12 midnight, 26 people from the People’s Struggle Front (FPR) held a protest action in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta.
Jakarta – Waves of protesters commemorating 10 years of reformasi took to the streets on Wednesday May 21. At least 6,000 people from a number of mass and student organisations gathered at the State Palace and the House of Representatives (DPR) between 11am and 6pm. The protesters presented seven people’s demands to the government.
[The following is a compilation of abridged translations from Detik.com and Tempo Interactive covering protest actions around the country on May 21 against the Indonesian government's planned fuel price increases.]
Anti-fuel price hike protest in Bogor ends in clash
Nurvita Indarini, Jakarta – A number of organisations are endeavouring to thwart the government’s plan to increase the price of fuel and are planning to besiege the State Palace in Central Jakarta on May 21 (the 10th anniversary of the overthrow of former President Suharto) and June 1.
Medan – Hundreds of protesters from the National Liberation Front (FPN) demonstrated at the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives building and the offices of the North Sumatran governor on Friday May 16 against the government’s plan to increase fuel prices by 30 percent.
Nograhany Widhi K, Jakarta – Devide et impera. It appears that the strategy of pitting one side against the other during the Dutch colonial period is still not out of date – including in the lead up to the government’s planned fuel price increases.
M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – The government doesn’t need to be concerned about the massive demonstrations by students opposing planned fuel price hikes. Rather, the real danger will be if hungry people take to the streets.
Jakarta – Workers in the 1-3 million rupiah per month wage group will be further squeezed if the planned fuel price increases come into effect. This is not just because real wages are steadily declining, but also because workers face the possibility of being dismissed due to the economic pressures confronting industry.
Nograhany Widhi K, Jakarta – A former director of the State Intelligence Coordinating Body (Bakin), Dr. A.C. Manullang, says he is not surprised by the statement by National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar that the demonstrations against the government’s planned fuel price hikes are being taken advantage of.