26 arrested at early morning protest against fuel price hikes
Detik.com - May 24, 2008
Indra Subagja, Jakarta — As soon as the price of
fuel was officially increased at 12 midnight, 26
people from the People’s Struggle Front (FPR) held a
protest action in front of the State Palace in
Central Jakarta. Police immediately moved in and
rounded up the demonstrators and all 26 were taken
to the Metro Jaya regional police headquarters.
“We brought them to the regional police
[headquarters] for questioning. We will release them
tomorrow morning, because they were not anarchic”,
said Central Jakarta police chief Senior
Commissioner Heru Winarko in Jakarta on Saturday May
24.
Prior to being place in a police truck, the
protesters were allowed to convey their demands for
around 45 minutes. “We then broke the demonstration
up because they did not have a permit and were
demonstrating at night”, added Winarko.
In a press release, the FPR said that even though
their actions was peaceful police responded
excessively by arresting them. They added that prior
to the demonstration an FPR member was also arrested
at a picket in the Salemba area of Central Jakarta.
(aba/aba)
[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]
Police attack on National University campus a ‘slaughter’: Witness
Detik.com - May 24, 2008
Irwan Nugroho, Jakarta — The police attack on the
University of Indonesia campus this morning has left
those who witnessed it dumb founded after they
watched hundreds of police officers surround some 50
or so students, who were then beaten, stripped naked
and forced into trucks.
The incident started at around 5am when police tried
to break up a demonstration by some 300 students on
the university campus in the Pejaten area of South
Jakarta. When police began beating and kicking the
students, they fled in disarray with police in
pursuit. Some were able to escape buy jumping over
the campus fence while others were able to hide in
buildings.
Fifty or so of the students however were not so
lucky. Cornered by police with no chance to escape
they stood their ground by sitting down on the
ground.
“They held the sit down action so that police would
stop the attack. But instead police formed a circle
and as a mob beat us with truncheons and their
shields”, said Baron, who succeed in escaping by
jumping the fence from behind which he witnessed the
incident. “It was a slaughter!”, he added.
Baron’s testimony was supported by a university
security officer called Iwan who witnessed the
attack from a forth floor toilet in a nearby
building. “They were trampled on. Basically the
police were totally sadistic”, recalled Iwan. “The
student’s shirts were ripped off. They (the
students) screamed for mercy”, he said.
Following the ‘slaughter’, along with some 100 other
students, they were taken away in trucks to the
South Jakarta district police headquarters. At 9am,
the campus grounds was still littered with clothing,
keys, motorcycle helmets, trousers and wallets.
Drops of blood were visible in and around the
vicinity.
Additional 40 arrested
At around mid-day the South Jakarta district police
arrested an additional 40 students from the National
University who were suspected of being involved in
the demonstration overnight.
“For now we have secured a total of 140 people”,
said district police chief Inspector General Adang
Firman in a joint press on Saturday May 24. As of
12noon, the 140 were undergoing intensive
questioning by officials at the district police
headquarters.
[Abridged translation by James Balowski from two
reports in Detik.com on May 24.]
Compilation of May 21 protest actions against fuel price hikes
Detik.com/Tempo Interactive - May 21, 2008
[The following is a compilation of abridged
translations from Detik.com and Tempo Interactive
covering protest actions around the country on May
21 against the Indonesian government’s planned fuel
price increases.]
* Anti-fuel price hike protest in Bogor ends in
clash
* Farmers in Garut take to the streets over fuel
price hikes
* Protest against fuel price hikes at State Palace
ends in chaos
* Ten students arrested following clash at State
Palace
* Student demonstration in Jambi almost ends in
clash
* Students in Makassar threaten to occupy parliament
* Seven protesters in Malang injured in clash with
police
* Protesters in Palembang opposes price hikes,
direct case assistance
* Student protesters in Samarinda ‘highjack’ fuel
tanker
* Students in Solo buying petrol to oppose fuel
price hikes
* Protesters in Surabaya say direct cash assistance
a political bribe
* Fourteen students in Ternate arrested after clash
with police
Anti-fuel price hike protest in Bogor ends in clash
Bogor — Around 30 students from the Ibnu Khaldun
University Indonesian Islamic Students Movement
(PMII) in Bogor, West Java, were involved in a clash
with police and civil service police on Wednesday
May 21 during a demonstration against the
government’s planned fuel (BBM) price hikes.
Prior to the scuffle, the students had held speeches
at the Bogor city hall then moved on to the centre
of the road creating a traffic jam. When the
protesters refused to move after police asked them
not to protest in the middle of the road and to
allow an ambulance to pass, police attempted to
disperse the crowd.
The students however stood their ground and tried to
resist. Chaos broke out with students fleeing to
save themselves. Around 10 protesters were arrested.
(Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Farmers in Garut take to the streets over fuel price
hikes
Garut — On May 21 around 15,000 members of the
Pasundan Farmers Union (SPP) held demonstrations at
a number of points around the West Java regency of
Garut. As well as opposing the government’s planned
fuel price increases, they also demanded that legal
action be taken against corrupt Garut regency
government officials.
The action started at the Garut District Attorney’s
Office where protesters demanded the completion of
legal cases involving members of the Garut Regional
House of Representatives (DPRD) who were involved in
the ‘State Budget Gate’ corruption scandal. They
also demanded that investigations be held into
corruption case involving the Garut regional
government. A bier was handed over to the Garut AGO
along with a statement written in cartoon format and
a petition.
Following this the farmers held a long-march to the
Garut DPRD some 3 kilometres away where they held a
demonstration and gave speeches opposing the planned
fuel price hikes. Although the march brought traffic
to a standstill and was watched over by around 100
police officers, the action proceeded in an orderly
manner. (Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
Protest against fuel price hikes at State Palace
ends in chaos
Jakarta — Thousands of protesters opposing the
government’s planned fuel price hikes clashed with
police in front of the State Palace in Central
Jakarta on May 21.
The clash erupted after Molotov cocktails were
thrown at police from the direction of the crowd.
One of the bombs hit a car passing in front of the
State Palace.
As a result of the incident, police and students
began chasing each other and scores of protesters
were arrested and placed in waiting police paddy
wagons. A middle-age man was hurt in the incident.
(Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Ten students arrested following clash at State
Palace
Jakarta — Ten activists from the City Forum
(Forkot) were arrested by police after a protest in
front of the State Palace ended in chaos on May 21.
The students, who were arrested for allegedly
bringing Molotov cocktails to the protest, are
currently being question by the Metro Jaya regional
police.
Adrian Napitupulu from Forkot said that there has
been no explanation given as to why the students
were arrested. He also said he regretted the
repressive actions taken by police when confronting
demonstrations, most of which are carried out by
students. “It’s just an excessive government policy
[towards protests], right. They should be addressed
wisely without violence”, he said.
(Tempo
Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Student demonstration in Jambi almost ends in clash
Jambi — At least 300 students from various
universities in Jambi, East Nusa Tenggara, from the
United Student Movement (GBM) and the group Help the
People’s Burden (BBM) demonstrated at the DPRD and
the Jambi governor’s office on May 21. The students
were protesting the government’s plan to increase
fuel prices.
A clash almost broke out between protesters and
security personnel with students and police pushing
and shoving each other after the demonstrators tried
to take down the national flag on the grounds of the
governor’s office. The students succeed in lowering
the flag to half mast when police rushed in and
stopped them.
(Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Students in Makassar threaten to occupy parliament
Makassar — Thousands of students and residents from
the People’s Awakening Front Against Fuel Price
Increases (FKRTKB) occupied the South Sulawesi DPRD
in the provincial capital of Makassar on May 21.
During the action, they took turns in giving anti-
government speeches and brought a huge tube made of
bamboo and paper with the messages “SBY-JK
[President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice President
Jusuf Kalla] the Betrayer of the People”, “Dracula
BBM” and “If BBM goes up, bring SBY-JK down”.
They were demanding that the DPRD hold a plenary
session to discuss the price increases. According to
action coordinator Ahmad, if their proposal is
refused they would occupy the DPRD overnight. “If
our request is denied, then will choose to stay
overnight. We are giving them until 5pm”, he said.
A number of student representatives were received by
a member of the Golkar Party faction who said they
would convey the student’s demands to the other
factions in the house.
Prior to holding the action at the DPRD, they also
demonstrated in front of the South Sulawesi offices
of the state-owned oil company Pertamina after which
it was symbolically sealed off.
A second protest on the same day was also held by
around 1,000 students from the Makassar State
University and the Makassar Muhammadiyah University.
In addition to protesting against planned fuel price
hikes, they also commemorated the May 1998 riots and
10 years of reformasi. Also taking part in the
protests were scores of housewives from the
Indonesian Poor Union (SRMI). (Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
(Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
Seven protesters in Malang injured in clash with
police
Malang — Protesters from the Malang People’s
Struggle Forum (FPRM) clashed with police during a
demonstration in front of the Malang city hall in
East Java on May 21.
As a result of the clash, seven protesters were
wounded after being beaten by police and three
others were arrested. Those who were wounded were
allowed to return home after receiving medial
treatment while the three who were arrested —
Kholil, Caping and Sullivan from the Malang City All
Indonesia Trade Union (SBSI) — were released after
being question at the Malang municipal police
office.
FPRM coordinator Misdi said that police had exceeded
their authority. “We only wanted to convey our
wishes, but the police acted brutally”, he said at a
press conference following the protest. With regard
to the fuel price hikes, Misdi said that it would
further burden workers because annual wage increases
of less then 20 percent would not compensate for a
30 percent increase in fuel prices. “In real terms,
workers wages are declining”, he added.
FPRM, which is an alliance of labour and student
activists, were protesting the government’s planned
fuel price hikes. Prior to the protest at the city
hall, FPRM also held a peaceful action in which they
‘sealed off’ the Malang regency attendance hall.
Aside from the FPRM, other protest actions against
the price increases were held in Malang city and the
Malang DPRD (DPRD) by the Malang Student Executive
Council (BEM), the Muhammadiyah Students Association
(IMM), the Indonesian National Students Movement
(GMNI), the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front
(KAMMI) and the Association of Islamic Students
(HMI).
(Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Protesters in Palembang opposes price hikes, direct
cash assistance
Palembang — A number of community and student
groups from the Peoples Alliance Against Fuel Price
Hikes (ARTK-BBM) took to the streets of the South
Sumatra city of Palembang on May 21 to call on the
regional government to oppose the government’s
planned fuel price increases.
“Around 500 people have already declared that they
are ready to join, students from a number of Student
Executive Councils (BEM) in Palembang have also
declared they will join the alliance”, said ARTK-BBM
coordinator Mualimin.
Mualimin said the aim of the protest is to call on
the legislative and executive wings of the South
Sumatra government to oppose the fuel price
increases as well as the government’s direct cash
assistance (BLT) program compensate the poor for the
price hikes, as has been done in a number of other
parts of Indonesia.
(Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Student protesters in Samarinda ‘highjack’ fuel
tanker
Samarinda — Around 300 students, non-government
organisation activists and workers from the Student
Movement Against Fuel Price Increases (GRT-BBM)
demonstrated at the East Kalimantan provincial
government offices in Samarinda today.
During the action, they almost succeeded in
‘hijacking’ a fuel tanker owned by the state-owned
oil company Pertamina. The highjacking did not last
long however with police succeeding in releasing the
tanker that the students were holding.
This is the umpteenth time that actions against the
government’s planned fuel price increases have been
held in East Kalimantan. “The East Kalimantan
government must explicitly oppose the planned furl
price hikes”, said action coordinator Billy during a
speech.
The protesters also held a theatrical action
depicting the suffering of the people should fuel
prices be increased. The action, which created a
traffic jam in front of the governor’s office, was
watched over by hundreds of officers from the
Samarinda municipal police.
(Tempo Interactive,
21/5/2008)
Students in Solo buying petrol to oppose fuel price
hikes
Solo — There are all kinds of ways to express an
opinion. On May 21, students in the Central Java
city of Solo for example, held an action to oppose
the government’s planned fuel price increases by
buying petrol. Scores of motorbikes were walked to
petrol stations at different locations and at each
one they were filled up with 1,000 rupiah of petrol.
Prior to the action, which was organised by the
Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) and
the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), they
gathered along with hundreds of other demonstrators
from various campuses in Solo, non-government
organisations activists and residents at the Gladag
roundabout then moved of to the city hall to hold a
demonstration against the price hikes.
It was while they were heading off to the city hall
that students separated off from the rally to buy
petrol. At each petrol station — which was tightly
guarded by police — the motorbikes waited until
police allowed them to enter then queued up to buy
petrol. When they reach the petrol pump, they bought
1,000 rupiah of petrol each. The other protesters
meanwhile, waited near the petrol station.
According to the students, the action was a
depiction of the low purchasing power of the people.
“Even now it is difficult for us to buy petrol, what
about later”, said one of the students.
Actions were also held on a number of university
campuses in Solo involving students, non-government
organisations, local residents, political parties
and even members of the regional parliament.
(Detik.com, 21/5/2008)
Protesters in Surabaya say direct cash assistance a
political bribe
Surabaya — Around 1,000 students, workers and
community activist besieged the State Grahadi
building on the East Java provincial capital of
Surabaya on May 21. They were commemorating the
overthrow of former President Suharto by
articulating their opposition to the government’s
planned fuel price hikes.
The demonstrators came from scores of different
organisations including the Surabaya Institute of
Technology Student Executive Council (BEM ITS), the
University of Airlingga BEM (BEM Unair), the State
Institute of Islamic Studies (BEM IAIN), the
National Development University BEM (BEM UPN), the
Indonesian Islamic Students Association (PMII), the
Association of Islamic Students (HMI), the
Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), the Workers
Challenge Alliance (ABM) and the Youth Front for
Upholding the National Mandate (BM PAN), the
National Movement to Bring Down Prices (GNTH) and a
number of other mass organisations.
The protesters brought a number of banners and
posters with messages such as “Oppose the fuel price
hikes, seize the corruptors’ assets”, “Cut
government officials’ wages to cover the fuel
subsidies”, “Increase the tax on goods and luxury
cars” and “Thwart the fuel price increases, reject
direct cash assistance because it is a form of
political bribery”. One of the groups also formed a
line holding a series of huge letters reading “I-N-
D-O-N-E-S-I-A = B-A-N-K-R-U-P-T”.
“It is time for the people to reunite. We must
demand that the president, who has no creativity and
is only cleaver at increasing fuel prices,
immediately resign”, said 1998 student activist
Taufik Menyon in a speech. Aside from opposing the
fuel price hikes, the protesters said that the
direct cash assistance (BLT) to compensate the poor
for the price increase is just a form of money
politics being carried out by the president to try
to maintain his popularity in the upcoming 2009
elections.
(Tempo Interactive, 21/5/2008)
Fourteen students in Ternate arrested after clash
with police
Ternate — Hundreds of students from the Ternate
chapter of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement
(PMII) and the National Student League for Democracy
(LMND) who are part of the National Liberation Front
(FPN) held a demonstration opposing the government’s
planned fuel price increases at the North Maluku
DPRD (DPRD) on May 21.
When students tried to enter the DPRD however they
were stopped by police and a scuffle broke out with
police and protesters pushing and shoving each
other. Unable to enter, students then held a ‘sweep’
of red number plate cars (government owned) parked
in front of the DPRD. One of these cars was pelted
with rocks and the front windscreen smashed. Upon
seeing this, police immediately gave chase beating
the students with clubs and kicking them. Fourteen
students were arrested.
Other students that avoided arrest fled to the North
Maluku Muhammadiyah University where they blockaded
the road with stones and conducted another sweep for
government cars. The situation eventually calmed
down with the assistance of the university rector
Muklis Asel.
“I have coordinated with the Ternate municipal
police chief to immediately release the 14 students
that were arrested”, promised Asel. Despite the
promise however, the students did not disband and
remained on the campus giving speeches.
(Detik.com,
21/5/2008)
[Translated by James Balowski.]