TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Students from student executives' agency across Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, staged a demonstration protesting the government's plan to increase fuel prices in front of the State Palace on Thursday, January 12, 2017. The students remained in front of the Palace up until 7:00 PM Western Indonesia Time although the demonstration was only permitted until 6:00 PM.
The demonstration, called the '121 Defend the Public Movement' involved around one thousand students from various universities.
The Police had tried to negotiate and attempted to disperse the crowd. However, the students continue to demand an audience with President Joko Widodo.
In addition to Jakarta, the demonstration was also staged in 19 cities across the country, including Padang, Jambi, Bandung, Samarinda, Mataram, Gorontalo, Merauke, and Surabaya.
The students made three demands: repeal the Government Regulation No. 160/2016 on the Increase of Non-Tax State Revenue Tariffs for Vehicle Registration Documents; rejecting the recent increase of electricity tariff for 900 VA customer category; and to return the fuel price determination mechanism to the government.
MARIA FRANSISCA