I support fuel prices protests, I did not engineer them: Amien

Antara ,  Surabaya   |  Thu, 05/15/2008 6:54 PM  |  Headlines

Former chairman of the People Consultative Assembly Amien Rais on Thursday said he supported the protests against the fuel prices hike plan, but denied he engineered them.

"I was invited to speak before the students executive council. I endorsed the student protests against the fuel price plan, I didn't engineer them," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Amien said he endorsed the peaceful protests because anarchy would only worsen the current situation.

"I ask them to stage peaceful protests. No anarchy, no attacks against police, no tire burning. The police and people will respect peaceful demonstrations," he said.

He went on to say the government had failed to improve economic conditions and legal certainty in the country, but praised its political situation improvement.

"We have to voice our concerns with the fuel prices plan. It doesn't mean we could topple the government as it still has to finish its tenure next year," Amien said. (***)

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