Indonesian Police, Military Brace Against Expected Protest Over Fuel Price Hike

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, March 27 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian police have secured the capital with 22,000 security personnel, including 8,000 soldiers ahead of demonstrations expected Tuesday over the fuel price hike. A massive demonstration is expected if the House of Representatives decided to endorse the government's decision to increase the subsidised fuel price by Rp1,500 (US$0.16) per litre from next month. Metro Jaya Police Headquarters public relations chief Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said the policemen and soldiers would be deployed to protect vital places such as ports, airports, toll roads, 540 petrol kiosks, and the national oil company, Pertamina's depot. He said the police expected about 8,000 people to take to the streets, especially around Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, and outside the presidential palace and parliament building. The police have advised disgruntled groups to hold a peaceful demonstration. Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is attending the Second Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, has ordered the Indonesian police to act wisely against the protesters to avoid any untoward incident. Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said Susilo was monitoring the situation. On Sunday, Gerindra Party called on the government not to use violence against the demonstrators. The proposed fuel price hike has fuelled protests in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities for the past several days. In Yogyakarta, hundreds of university students held a demonstration outside the Yogyakarta Legislative Assembly Monday. -- BERNAMA