Indonesia News Updates - Fishermen join fuel protests

Home > South-East Asia >> Indonesia

Fishermen join fuel protests

Jakarta Post - March 27, 2012

10 hospitalized as fuel protests turn violent in Central Jakarta - Agence France Presse. March 25, 2012
More than 40,000 join protests - Jakarta Post. March 27, 2012
Airport closed in violent rally - Jakarta Post. March 27, 2012
Massive police, military operation expected in Jakarta on Tuesday - Jakarta Globe. March 26, 2012
Protesters occupy Medan airport - Jakarta Post. March 26, 2012

Jakarta – A large group of protesters gathered outside the front gates of the House of Representatives on Tuesday to voice opposition against the government's planned April 1 fuel price hikes.

The group was comprised of labor unions, interest groups and university students. It included the National Fishermen's Union (SNT), the Indonesian Opposition Front (FORI) and the Indonesian Labor Union (SBSI). Police, who were lined up behind the front gates, estimated that there were about 200 protesters.

Demonstrators began gathering outside the gates at around 10 a.m. before ending at 1:30 p.m. Armed with loudspeakers, they had threatened to tear down the House gates. But at around 1 p.m., a speaker announced that they were going to postpone any further actions until Thursday.

"We will save our energy for now. We will come back in two days and we will tear this place down if the government passes its fuel hikes," said FORI coordinator Anwar Sastro Ma'ruf. No injuries were reported. (png)