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Jakarta protesters call for cancellation of electricity rate hike

Viva News - August 7, 2010

Umi Kalsum, Eko Huda S – Around 700 people held a protest action against the recent basic electricity rate (TDL) increases in front of the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta on Saturday August 7. They demand that the government cancel the increase that took effect last month.

The demonstrators, who came from the August 7 National Resistance Movement arrived at the State Palace at 2pm. The group comprises various different organisations including the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM), the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII), the Muslim Students Association for Reform (HMI-MPO), the Indonesian Association of Catholic Students (PMKRI), the State Electricity Company Trade Union (SP-PLN), the Muhammadiyah Youth Association (IMM), Petisi 28 (Petition of 28) and the People's Democratic Party (PRD).

During the action that continued until 4pm, they brought a number of banners with messages such as "Reject the TDL price hikes", "Reduce the price of basic commodities" and "The SBY-Boediono government and the parliament have failed to bring prosperity to the people".

"We took to the streets because the ordinary people are having to bear the burden of extraordinarily high price increases as an impact to the basic electricity rate hike," said August 7 National Resistance Movement public relations officer Budi Wardoyo from the Indonesian Labour Movement Union (PPBI).

The action, which took place right alongside the State Palace, was closely guarded by hundreds of police officers. According to field officer Deputy Senior Commissioner Andry Wibowo, more than 400 personnel were deployed to secure the protest. "Officers from the regional police, the Central Jakarta district police and the Gambir sectoral police," he said. (adi)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

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