Mayday 2008 : The Struggle to End Energy Shortage
9:41 PM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
by Papernas-International
Pre MayDay Mobilization
During the commemoration of Mayday, The National liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) carried out demands for the nationalization of mining and oil industries, together with the repudiation of foreign debt and national industrialization program, which are Papernas’ main programs to save the country from the ongoing crisis.
On April 29, 1200 protesters from the Indonesian Poor Union (SRMI), The National Front of Indonesian Labors’ Struggle (FNPBI) staged a protest in front of Exxonmobil office. “We left our factory machine, left our plastic bottle for one intention: to Nationalize oil and mining industry” said Domingggus, the Chaiperson of FNPBI.)
Harris Sitorus,
Papernas' General Secretary
The protesters then marched to the Presidential Palace. Along the way they chanted slogans like “Nationalization of oil and mining industries for free education and health services, and for saving the national industries.”
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, hundreds of workers and the poor convoyed to PT. INCO. INCO has mined nickel in the province since 1968. In 1995, it renewed its exploration contract with the Indonesian government for another 30 years. In 2007, Inco gained profit of $513,4 million.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, hundreds of workers and the poor convoyed to PT. INCO. INCO has mined nickel in the province since 1968. In 1995, it renewed its exploration contract with the Indonesian government for another 30 years. In 2007, Inco gained profit of $513,4 million.
Dita Sari
addressing the crowd
The company is notorious for creating land and water pollution, ecosystem damage, carrying out forced eviction, and therefore causing impoverishment and health problems among the local communities. Ansar, leader of FNPBI South Sulawesi Branch stated: “ Our country owns nickel, gas, oil and most of energy needed, but energy shortage can be found everywhere in this country."
Government seem to have no pro-poor plan in anticipating global energy crisis. President Susilo Bambang Yudyono’s speech on April 30, asked for people understanding in correspond to the current situation of oil and food crisis. Although he did not mention anything about the plan to raise the oil price, the measure has been such a hot discussion in the media for the past two months. Purnomo, Minister of energy and mineral made it clear by saying that the government has made some reviews in responding to rocketing world’s oil price. “ Oil price rise would be government’s last solution”, he said. Unfortunately government’s last solution has likely been the favorite solution for every Indonesian leader. Finance ministry predicted the highest rise would be 28,7%. Such rise would create 11,1% inflation.
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