Protest rally marks Yudhoyono's arrival in Mamuju

Antara ,  Mamuju   |  Tue, 05/13/2008 2:43 PM  |  National

Dozens of students protested the government`s plan to raise domestic fuel oil prices as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, on Tuesday to talk with local farmers and fisherman.

The students rallied in front of the Tomakaka University campus, which is located on a main street that President Yudhoyono`s motorcade was expected to pass.

Their protest was stopped by hundreds of security personnel on guard around the campus.

There was a skirmish between the two parties when the police tried to drive the demonstrators away from the campus. However, the situation was later brought under control.

The protesters urged the government to cancel its plan to raise domestic fuel oil prices because, they said, it would increase the misery of the destitute, who make up the majority of
Indonesia`s population.

They also asked the government to lower basic commodity prices, to revoke the laws on oil and gas and the laws on foreign investment, to nationalize all state assets and to quit the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to avoid becoming dependent on world oil prices.

On Monday, when President Yudhoyono arrived in Surabaya, East Java, to attend National Education Day's peak event, he was greeted by a similar rally by hundreds of students.

The protesters from a number of universities in Surabaya waved posters and banners, among other things, reading: "Reject fuel oil price hikes", "Lower prices of essential food supplies."

Faqih Alfian, the rally`s coordinator, said the demonstration Monday was supported by students of almost all universities in Surabaya. (**)

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