SMS: Student demonstrations against planned fuel price increase

Fri, 05/30/2008 4:41 PM  |  Reader's Forum

I think the police actions against demonstrations have been conducted based on standard procedure. If the demonstrators are turn to anarchy or attack the police, of course the police can use water cannons and rubber bullets to control the situation.

In fact some of the demonstrators were involved in criminal activities. The police have authority to arrest them for further investigation. Many demonstrators often force their demands on officials without paying attention to the law.
ABDULRAHIM
Tangerang, Banten

We, the UNAS alumni, would like to express our concern regarding what has just happened here. I agree there must be firm action taken against students who possess drugs and we understand the police's duty to prevent demonstrations from turning violent, but it must be conducted in an appropriate way.

We can't tolerate what the police has done to our campus: they fired shots, tortured, beat and kicked the students. The even picked up some students who were sleeping in the students senate room. Let's unite to stop violence. For all lecturers and students, keep on fighting for justice. We support your efforts to seek legal assistance from the Foundation of Indonesian Legal Aid Institute and the National Commission on Human Rights.
YASMIN
Tangerang

Why are students protesting against the reduction of fuel subsidies? Instead of subsidizing fuel, the government needs to redirect funding to reduce poverty, improve education and provide proper health care. It is unfortunate the government didn't have the foresight to make a decision two years ago to increase fuel prices on a regular and gradual basis -- say 1 percent or Rp 50 every month to progressively phase out the subsidy with minimal inflationary effect.
G. HUNTER
Bekasi

Demonstrations are about demons and attracting attention, so any plans of staging a demonstration must be reported to the police as the authority in charge of domestic security affairs. I support the police's actions against the student demonstration and others. Long live Bapak Gen. Sutanto.
JOKO SUKISNO
Bogor

If I were a student, I would stay in my domain. I would not be involved in such a silly demonstration. The police response in order to handle the student protests was appropriate because students should act as intellectuals instead of local thugs.
JASON
Jakarta

The way police handled the protesters is not acceptable. When people are hungry, they have the absolute right to cry out asking for help. Student protests are only a means of saying they and the people are hungry. So please don't suppress them again like in the UNAS tragedy.
FRANS EEBE
Bandung

I want to know what those who fight for Ahmadiyah think. Will you also fight for the students who were attacked by police on their own campus?
FADJAR SETYANTO
Jakarta

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