ID :
26978
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 14:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/26978
The shortlink copeid
HUNDREDS OF PKS CADRES STAGE RALLY TO PRESS FOR FUEL OIL PRICE CUTS
Samarinda, E Kalimantan, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Hundreds of cadres of the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) staged a rally here on Monday urging the government to lower domestic fuel oil prices as global crude prices tumbled to US$60 a barrel recently.
"The government raised fuel oil prices in May 2008 on the assumption that global oil prices were US$95 a barrel. But because of the current global financial crisis oil demand has fallen, causing global crude prices to tumble to US$60 a barrel," the rally's coordinator, Abdul Rohim, said.
In the rally which started at 5 p.m., the demonstrators also distributed leaflets among passersby.
"Judging from the current condition, the government is held responsible for lowering fuel oil prices," he said.
In their oration, the demonstrators also urged the government to adopt economic policies which would benefit the public at large.
"The government's policy to slash subsidy by raising fuel oil prices and providing the poor with BLT (direct cash assistance to compensate for the fuel oil price hikes) has proven ineffective to solve the problem. The distribution of BLT has missed the target and tended to discriminate against the recipients. Meanwhile, the fuel oil price hikes have had an extraordinary impact on the people because the prices of other commodities rose amidst the people's low purchasing power," he said.
"The most appropriate moment to alleviate the people's financial burden today is lowering fuel oil prices. We (PKS cadres) will continue to struggle in the people's interests and to take to the streets until the government lowers fuel oil prices," he said.
Meanwhile, Sarwono SP, chief of the party's branch in Samarinda, said the rally was meant to fight for the people's interests rather than the party's interests.
"We took to the street not to fight for the party's interests but to defend the people's interests. PKS has officially expressed support for the lowering of fuel oil prices and today we asked the people from all walks of life to voice their aspirations to urge the government to lower fuel oil prices soon," he said.
"The government raised fuel oil prices in May 2008 on the assumption that global oil prices were US$95 a barrel. But because of the current global financial crisis oil demand has fallen, causing global crude prices to tumble to US$60 a barrel," the rally's coordinator, Abdul Rohim, said.
In the rally which started at 5 p.m., the demonstrators also distributed leaflets among passersby.
"Judging from the current condition, the government is held responsible for lowering fuel oil prices," he said.
In their oration, the demonstrators also urged the government to adopt economic policies which would benefit the public at large.
"The government's policy to slash subsidy by raising fuel oil prices and providing the poor with BLT (direct cash assistance to compensate for the fuel oil price hikes) has proven ineffective to solve the problem. The distribution of BLT has missed the target and tended to discriminate against the recipients. Meanwhile, the fuel oil price hikes have had an extraordinary impact on the people because the prices of other commodities rose amidst the people's low purchasing power," he said.
"The most appropriate moment to alleviate the people's financial burden today is lowering fuel oil prices. We (PKS cadres) will continue to struggle in the people's interests and to take to the streets until the government lowers fuel oil prices," he said.
Meanwhile, Sarwono SP, chief of the party's branch in Samarinda, said the rally was meant to fight for the people's interests rather than the party's interests.
"We took to the street not to fight for the party's interests but to defend the people's interests. PKS has officially expressed support for the lowering of fuel oil prices and today we asked the people from all walks of life to voice their aspirations to urge the government to lower fuel oil prices soon," he said.
