Dozens Arrested and Wounded As Police Repress Anti Fuel Price Rise Actions

May 21, Jakarta:

Commemorating a decade of Suharto's fall and protesting against government's plan to increase fuel price, some organisations from the People Accuse Front (FRM) that had stayed overnight in the Proclamation Monument, like LMND and GMNK, joined with other groups of demonstrator and action fronts in the Hotel Indonesia roundabout. At about 2 pm, the crowd reached up to thousands* and marched to State Palace. Masses from FRM positioned themselves in the front line and the entire crowd chanted yells demanding the president to make a decree that nationalise oil, gas, and mining industry to meet domestic need for fuel. In front of State Palace, pushings between protesters and police turned into a major clash as police repressed the crowd and arrested 18 students from LMND, FAMRED, and GMNK. Up until now, nobody has been released.

A student from University of Indonesia also reportedly suffered from shot wound in stomach and is currently being hospitalised.

Bima, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB):

Protesters from LMND, SMI, and BPM STKIP Bima started their protest in the morning by marching from STKIP Bima to a major intersection in the city. When performing theatrical protest, some police came and ordered them to dismiss themselves because of not having any permit. When protesters started to head to the Municipal Parliament, police dispersed the crowd, causing clash and arrest against 11 people with dozens wounded. Up until now, nobody has been released.

Manado, North Sulawesi:

Three activists were arrested by police, of which one was from PRD. Nobody has been released.

Please send your solidarity and support by sending your protest demanding that the detainees be released to the address below:

Indonesia National Police Headquarters
Fax: +62-21-7218144
SMS: +62-818-315703
Email: info@polri.go.id


List of Acronyms:

PRD - People's Democratic Party - Partai Rakyat Demokratik
FAMRED - Students' Action Front for Reform and Democracy - Front Aksi Mahasiswa untuk Reformasi dan Demokrasi
GMNK - Nationalist Popular Students' Movement - Gerakan Mahasiswa Nasional Kerakyatan
LMND - National Students' League for Democracy - Liga Mahasiswa Nasional untuk Demokrasi
SMI - Indonesia Stundents' Union - Serikat Mahasiswa Indonesia
BPM STKIP - Students' Representatives Body of Higher School for Education Knowledge - Badan Perwakilan Mahasiswa dari Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pendidikan

*After further cross checking, the number of people at this point was not as high as what was reported earlier (6,000), therefore we decided to correct it (thousands). Apology for the mistake.

Labels: Indonesian Politics, News, Students