Indonesia

Statement by National Front of Indonesian Labour Struggle (FNPBI): The SBY-JK government's latest fuel price increase has led to a rise in transportation cost and prices of basic goods - even while indicators of people's welfare, such as income levels and purchasing power, are declining. According to some economic analysts, the 30% fuel price rise will increase inflation rate from 8.33% to 10.6%. The Institute of Study for Mining and Energy Reform predicted that the 30% fuel price increase will probably throw 15.68 million Indonesians into poverty.

By Ulfa Ilyas, Jakarta, July 1, 2008: Around 80 people gathered together under the banner of the National front for Indonesian Workers Struggle (FNPBI) and held another demonstration at ExxonMobil and the national parliament building to demanded that the government cancel the increase in the price of fuel, nationalise the mining industry and repudiate the foreign debt. In addition to this they also called on the Indonesian people to not elect again those political parties that are pro-foreign interests and parties that are supporters of the fuel price rise and oppose the parliamentary investigations committee in the fuel price rise - the parties in the SBY and Yusuf Kalla government (Demokrat and Golkar).

Media Bersama: Students in Jakarta once again demonstrated against the increase in the price of fuel on June 30, 2008. They gathered as the Indonesian Students League (SMI). The protesters left from the roundabout outside Hotel Indonesia at about 1pm and marched towards the Presidential Palace. There were about 70 people demonstrating.
Chants opposing the government policy of increasing fuel prices reverberated throughout the protest.
A group of police blocked the protesters in front of the office of the Minister for People’s Welfare. After difficult negotiations the police allowed time for protesters to speak about their demands. Besides rejecting the government policy to raise fuel prices, they also demanded the government immediately give subsidies to the people. In their speeches, they criticised the political elites as traitors because the policies they implement are never on behalf of the people.

Ario Adityo, Media Bersama: Indonesian migrant workers demonstrated along with thousands of Hong Kong citizens on July 1. This action coincided with national holiday to mark the day that Hong Kong returned to China.
The group of demonstrators demanded democratisation, like direct elections, wage increases as well as an end to discrimination against minority groups and migrant workers.

Bali, June 27: The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was created in 1989 as a response to “toxic ships” attempting to offload their cargo in poor nations. With measures allowing countries to ban imports and requiring exporters to gain consent before sending toxic materials abroad, it was seen as the best hope to end the mountains of waste that were reaching poor countries.

JAKARTA, June 24: Thousands of Indonesian protesters angered by a student demonstrator's death after his arrest burned cars and hurled stones at police guarding the Parliament after police attacked them with water cannon.
Participants in the demonstration in Jakarta also demanded that the government revoke a 30 percent fuel price increase imposed last month.

On May 26, the National Students' League for Democracy (LMND), an affiliate of the National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS), together with various student organizations started hunger strikes in 14 provinces to refuse fuel price rise as well as to demand the nationalisation of oil and mining industries.

Data Brainanta: 13 June 2008 - Fuel price hikes have always sparked widespread mass protests in Indonesia since the overthrow of the dictator Suharto in a popular uprising in 1998. However, the timing this year was special. The hike occurred near the time of the 10-year anniversary Suharto’s fall on May 21 and the National Awakening Day on the 20th, which commemorates the birth of Indonesia’s first nationalist organisation. Three leftist fronts, each representing different tactics, took to the streets to reject the policy.

Papernas
Popular resistance to petrol price rises has been continuously sparking protests around Indonesia. Since the Indonesian government officially announced a fuel price rise on May 23, 2008, resistance has spread across the country.

On June 1, the National Liberation Front (FPN), a new alliance of which the KPRM-PRD is a part of, held a demonstration of 700, which began outside the Hotel Indonesia then marched on the World Bank offices. The main slogans were:
1. SBY-JK and other elite political parties are bankrupt! Nationalise the mining and gas industries and place them under people's control!
2. Kick out the World Bank from Indonesia, SBY-JK and other elite political parties have yielded to its demands for fuel price hikes!