[Nasional-e] Indonesia price protests echo Suharto's end

[Holy Uncle]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-10jan2003-85.htm

Posted: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 23:25 AEDT

Indonesia price protests echo Suharto's end

Indonesian protest leaders have warned the Government to roll back sharp 
price rises for fuel and power or face even larger demonstrations and more 
radical action, including a blockade of a major port.

Protesters have hit city streets across Indonesia throughout the week.

Violent protests over prices in 1998 helped topple strongman Suharto, who 
stepped down as president with his nation in chaos at the height of the 
Asian financial crisis.

Protests turned violent with clashes outside the presidential palace in 
Jakarta and in West Java.

The economy is struggling and many Indonesians barely make ends meet because 
of high unemployment and previous price rises.

Analysts say the sense of crisis is not as great as in 1998 and the latest 
demonstrations will need to get bigger and bolder to have a major impact.

Some protest leaders are promising exactly that.

"We intend to have more protests on the 13th and 15th of January," said Dita 
Indah Sari, a labour activist who heads the National Front for the Struggle 
of Indonesian Workers.

She said workers at the Jakarta sea terminal wanted to use 50 trailers to 
block the port.

Price increases including a 22 per cent rise for diesel are part of 
government efforts to cut subsidies and the country's budget deficit.

The rises reflect economic reform agreements with key donor the 
International Monetary Fund.




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