FPN Protest Action Against Fuel Price Hike May 29 and June 1

Workers, students and housewives protest fuel price hikes
Metro TV News - May 29, 2008

Jakarta -- Around 500 workers, children and housewives protested at the offices of the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare in Jakarta on Thursday May 29 against the recent fuel price hikes.

The protesters, who came from the National Liberation Front (FPN), started the action by gathering at the Grogol bus terminal in West Jakarta then moving off towards the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta. They then marched back to the Welfare Ministers office and then on the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta.
In addition to opposing the fuel price hikes and the high price of basic commodities, they also called for cuts to government officials’ wages and the nationalisation of the oil and gas industry under the control of the people.

Indonesia: Student activist in North Maluku abducted and tortured

Asia Pacific Solidarity Network Action Alert - May 29, 2008

The Asia Pacific Solidarity Network (APSN) has received information from the People’s Democratic Party-Political Committee of the Poor (KPRM-PRD) that on May 27 a student activist named Chalid from the Politics of the Poor-Indonesian National Student League for Democracy (LMND-PRM) in the North Maluku city of Ternate was abducted by unknown persons, taken to an isolated location where he was beaten and tortured with electric shocks. Chalid was later released but warned that he would be under surveillance and threatened with death.

The incident follows a series of demonstrations and clashes with police in Ternate during widespread protest actions in the lead up to and following the Indonesian government’s unpopular decision to increase the price of fuel.

Thought this might interest you...

Translated by James B

Excerpt: “Circles close to the Palace group Rizal in the same rank as former Indonesian Military Chiefretired Gen. Wiranto who now leads the Hanura Party and Fuad Bawazier, the former Finance Minister who hasalso joined that party. This group has adopted the flag bearing the words the People’s Challenge Front(FRM).”
--------------------
Cover Story: On High Alert
Tempo Magazine - May 27-June 2, 2008

The government has raised the price of fuel, triggering protests everywhere. The Palace is worried that martyrs will fall, while the President has cancelled his trip to Italy.

Budi Setyarso – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was to have visited Rome next week to attend a World Food Security Ministerial Level Meeting. The meeting, organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization, will, among other topics, discuss the world food crisis. But the domestic crisis may well put an end to the President’s plans.

“The President’s trip to Italy, also to England, has been canceled,” said a Tempo source. Presidential spokesperson Dino Patti Djalal has not disputed the information, although he claims it is not a cancellation, because the planned trip to these countries was not publicized.