Poor people stage protest outside VP`s residence

Makassar, NU Online
Hundreds of poor people staged a protest rally against the government`s plan to raise domestic fuel oil prices at Vice President Jusuf Kalla`s private residence in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Saturday.

Their proters said if the government of Persident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla insisted on raising the fuel oil prices, it would increase the misery of the poor people in the country.<>

Therefore they urged the government to cancel its plan.

Guarded tightly by the police, the protesters then marched to the state oil company PT Pertamina`s marketing office on Jalan Garuda , about 500 meters from Kalla`s residence, to convey the same demand.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of students who called themselves South Sulawesi Deliberation Students Movement staged a similar protest rally at the Pertamina office on Jalan Garuda.

Coordinator of the rally, Muhammad Rain, said the government would only add to the affliction of the poor people if it raised the domestic fuel oil prices.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla was greeted by a students demonstration in Yogyakarta on Friday as he arrived to attend a traditional ceremony ahead of the marriage of Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X`s daughter.

The students, grouped in the Indonesian Muslim Students` Action Front (KAMMI) and the Gajah Mada University Sudents` Executive Board (BEM UGM), first gathered at the Tugu intersection and then marched to the Gedung Agung (State Palace) on Jalan Ahmad Yani where the vice president stopped over.

As reported by Antara news agency, the situation in front of the building became tense when police suddenly tried to drive the demonstrators away from their position facing the palace.

There was some scuffling between the police and the students as the latter eventually retreated to a position in front of the Vredeburg fort. The demonstrators later dispersed by Friday prayers` time. (dar)