[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
Bogor – Around 30 students from the Ibnu Khaldun University Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) in Bogor, West Java, were involved in a clash with police and civil service police on Wednesday May 21 during a demonstration against the government's planned fuel (BBM) price hikes.
Prior to the scuffle, the students had held speeches at the Bogor city hall then moved on to the centre of the road creating a traffic jam. When the protesters refused to move after police asked them not to protest in the middle of the road and to allow an ambulance to pass, police attempted to disperse the crowd.
The students however stood their ground and tried to resist. Chaos broke out with students fleeing to save themselves. Around 10 protesters were arrested. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Farmers in Garut take to the streets over fuel price hikes
Garut – On May 21 around 15,000 members of the Pasundan Farmers Union (SPP) held demonstrations at a number of points around the West Java regency of Garut. As well as opposing the government's planned fuel price increases, they also demanded that legal action be taken against corrupt Garut regency government officials.
The action started at the Garut District Attorney's Office where protesters demanded the completion of legal cases involving members of the Garut Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) who were involved in the 'State Budget Gate' corruption scandal. They also demanded that investigations be held into corruption case involving the Garut regional government. A bier was handed over to the Garut AGO along with a statement written in cartoon format and a petition.
Following this the farmers held a long-march to the Garut DPRD some 3 kilometres away where they held a demonstration and gave speeches opposing the planned fuel price hikes. Although the march brought traffic to a standstill and was watched over by around 100 police officers, the action proceeded in an orderly manner. (Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
Protest against fuel price hikes at State Palace ends in chaos
Jakarta – Thousands of protesters opposing the government's planned fuel price hikes clashed with police in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on May 21.
The clash erupted after Molotov cocktails were thrown at police from the direction of the crowd. One of the bombs hit a car passing in front of the State Palace.
As a result of the incident, police and students began chasing each other and scores of protesters were arrested and placed in waiting police paddy wagons. A middle-age man was hurt in the incident. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Ten students arrested following clash at State Palace
Jakarta – Ten activists from the City Forum (Forkot) were arrested by police after a protest in front of the State Palace ended in chaos on May 21. The students, who were arrested for allegedly bringing Molotov cocktails to the protest, are currently being question by the Metro Jaya regional police.
Adrian Napitupulu from Forkot said that there has been no explanation given as to why the students were arrested. He also said he regretted the repressive actions taken by police when confronting demonstrations, most of which are carried out by students. "It's just an excessive government policy [towards protests], right. They should be addressed wisely without violence", he said. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Student demonstration in Jambi almost ends in clash
Jambi – At least 300 students from various universities in Jambi, East Nusa Tenggara, from the United Student Movement (GBM) and the group Help the People's Burden (BBM) demonstrated at the DPRD and the Jambi governor's office on May 21. The students were protesting the government's plan to increase fuel prices.
A clash almost broke out between protesters and security personnel with students and police pushing and shoving each other after the demonstrators tried to take down the national flag on the grounds of the governor's office. The students succeed in lowering the flag to half mast when police rushed in and stopped them. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Students in Makassar threaten to occupy parliament
Makassar – Thousands of students and residents from the People's Awakening Front Against Fuel Price Increases (FKRTKB) occupied the South Sulawesi DPRD in the provincial capital of Makassar on May 21.
During the action, they took turns in giving anti-government speeches and brought a huge tube made of bamboo and paper with the messages "SBY-JK [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice President Jusuf Kalla] the Betrayer of the People", "Dracula BBM" and "If BBM goes up, bring SBY-JK down".
They were demanding that the DPRD hold a plenary session to discuss the price increases. According to action coordinator Ahmad, if their proposal is refused they would occupy the DPRD overnight. "If our request is denied, then will choose to stay overnight. We are giving them until 5pm", he said.
A number of student representatives were received by a member of the Golkar Party faction who said they would convey the student's demands to the other factions in the house.
Prior to holding the action at the DPRD, they also demonstrated in front of the South Sulawesi offices of the state-owned oil company Pertamina after which it was symbolically sealed off.
A second protest on the same day was also held by around 1,000 students from the Makassar State University and the Makassar Muhammadiyah University. In addition to protesting against planned fuel price hikes, they also commemorated the May 1998 riots and 10 years of reformasi. Also taking part in the protests were scores of housewives from the Indonesian Poor Union (SRMI). (Detik.com, 21/5/2008) (Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
Seven protesters in Malang injured in clash with police
Malang – Protesters from the Malang People's Struggle Forum (FPRM) clashed with police during a demonstration in front of the Malang city hall in East Java on May 21.
As a result of the clash, seven protesters were wounded after being beaten by police and three others were arrested. Those who were wounded were allowed to return home after receiving medial treatment while the three who were arrested – Kholil, Caping and Sullivan from the Malang City All Indonesia Trade Union (SBSI) – were released after being question at the Malang municipal police office.
FPRM coordinator Misdi said that police had exceeded their authority. "We only wanted to convey our wishes, but the police acted brutally", he said at a press conference following the protest. With regard to the fuel price hikes, Misdi said that it would further burden workers because annual wage increases of less then 20 percent would not compensate for a 30 percent increase in fuel prices. "In real terms, workers wages are declining", he added.
FPRM, which is an alliance of labour and student activists, were protesting the government's planned fuel price hikes. Prior to the protest at the city hall, FPRM also held a peaceful action in which they 'sealed off' the Malang regency attendance hall.
Aside from the FPRM, other protest actions against the price increases were held in Malang city and the Malang DPRD by the Malang Student Executive Council (BEM), the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), the Indonesian National Students Movement (GMNI), the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) and the Association of Islamic Students (HMI). (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Protesters in Palembang oppose price hikes, direct cash assistance
Palembang – A number of community and student groups from the Peoples Alliance Against Fuel Price Hikes (ARTK-BBM) took to the streets of the South Sumatra city of Palembang on May 21 to call on the regional government to oppose the government's planned fuel price increases.
"Around 500 people have already declared that they are ready to join, students from a number of Student Executive Councils (BEM) in Palembang have also declared they will join the alliance", said ARTK-BBM coordinator Mualimin.
Mualimin said the aim of the protest is to call on the legislative and executive wings of the South Sumatra government to oppose the fuel price increases as well as the government's direct cash assistance (BLT) program compensate the poor for the price hikes, as has been done in a number of other parts of Indonesia. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Student protesters in Samarinda 'highjack' fuel tanker
Samarinda – Around 300 students, non-government organisation activists and workers from the Student Movement Against Fuel Price Increases (GRT-BBM) demonstrated at the East Kalimantan provincial government offices in Samarinda today.
During the action, they almost succeeded in 'hijacking' a fuel tanker owned by the state-owned oil company Pertamina. The highjacking did not last long however with police succeeding in releasing the tanker that the students were holding.
This is the umpteenth time that actions against the government's planned fuel price increases have been held in East Kalimantan. "The East Kalimantan government must explicitly oppose the planned furl price hikes", said action coordinator Billy during a speech.
The protesters also held a theatrical action depicting the suffering of the people should fuel prices be increased. The action, which created a traffic jam in front of the governor's office, was watched over by hundreds of officers from the Samarinda municipal police. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Students in Solo buy petrol to oppose fuel price hikes
Solo – There are all kinds of ways to express an opinion. On May 21, students in the Central Java city of Solo for example, held an action to oppose the government's planned fuel price increases by buying petrol. Scores of motorbikes were walked to petrol stations at different locations and at each one they were filled up with 1,000 rupiah of petrol.
Prior to the action, which was organised by the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) and the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), they gathered along with hundreds of other demonstrators from various campuses in Solo, non-government organisations activists and residents at the Gladag roundabout then moved of to the city hall to hold a demonstration against the price hikes.
It was while they were heading off to the city hall that students separated off from the rally to buy petrol. At each petrol station – which was tightly guarded by police – the motorbikes waited until police allowed them to enter then queued up to buy petrol. When they reach the petrol pump, they bought 1,000 rupiah of petrol each. The other protesters meanwhile, waited near the petrol station.
According to the students, the action was a depiction of the low purchasing power of the people. "Even now it is difficult for us to buy petrol, what about later", said one of the students.
Actions were also held on a number of university campuses in Solo involving students, non-government organisations, local residents, political parties and even members of the regional parliament. (Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
Protesters in Surabaya say direct cash assistance a political bribe
Surabaya – Around 1,000 students, workers and community activist besieged the State Grahadi building on the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on May 21. They were commemorating the overthrow of former President Suharto by articulating their opposition to the government's planned fuel price hikes.
The demonstrators came from scores of different organisations including the Surabaya Institute of Technology Student Executive Council (BEM ITS), the University of Airlingga BEM (BEM Unair), the State Institute of Islamic Studies (BEM IAIN), the National Development University BEM (BEM UPN), the Indonesian Islamic Students Association (PMII), the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) and the Youth Front for Upholding the National Mandate (BM PAN), the National Movement to Bring Down Prices (GNTH) and a number of other mass organisations.
The protesters brought a number of banners and posters with messages such as "Oppose the fuel price hikes, seize the corruptors' assets", "Cut government officials' wages to cover the fuel subsidies", "Increase the tax on goods and luxury cars" and "Thwart the fuel price increases, reject direct cash assistance because it is a form of political bribery". One of the groups also formed a line holding a series of huge letters reading "I-N-D-O-N-E-S-I-A = B-A-N-K-R-U-P-T".
"It is time for the people to reunite. We must demand that the president, who has no creativity and is only cleaver at increasing fuel prices, immediately resign", said 1998 student activist Taufik Menyon in a speech. Aside from opposing the fuel price hikes, the protesters said that the direct cash assistance (BLT) to compensate the poor for the price increase is just a form of money politics being carried out by the president to try to maintain his popularity in the upcoming 2009 elections. (Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Fourteen students in Ternate arrested after clash with police
Ternate – Hundreds of students from the Ternate chapter of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) and the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) who are part of the National Liberation Front (FPN) held a demonstration opposing the government's planned fuel price increases at the North Maluku DPRD on May 21.
When students tried to enter the DPRD however they were stopped by police and a scuffle broke out with police and protesters pushing and shoving each other. Unable to enter, students then held a 'sweep' of red number plate cars (government owned) parked in front of the DPRD. One of these cars was pelted with rocks and the front windscreen smashed. Upon seeing this, police immediately gave chase beating the students with clubs and kicking them. Fourteen students were arrested.
Other students that avoided arrest fled to the North Maluku Muhammadiyah University where they blockaded the road with stones and conducted another sweep for government cars. The situation eventually calmed down with the assistance of the university rector Muklis Asel.
"I have coordinated with the Ternate municipal police chief to immediately release the 14 students that were arrested", promised Asel. Despite the promise however, the students did not disband and remained on the campus giving speeches. (Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
