Worldwide stir over fuel price hike: Indonesia, Czech Republic, and other nations face heat. Watch here
The subsidized fuel price hike would hit the urban poor the hardest, including the farmers, fishermen, and workers, said Head of the Indonesian Trade Union Federation, Said Iqbal in a statement. This sharp increase in fuel price will hugely impact...
BREAKING: Protests and clashes erupt in Indonesia over high cost of living following government decision to raise fuel prices by 30% 🚨
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) September 5, 2022
Police retreating.
🔊 pic.twitter.com/yl4awVAuBZ
After weeks of speculations about the possible hike in subsidized energy prices due to the ballooning energy subsidy budget, President Joko Widodo announced the 30% increase in subsidized fuel prices on Saturday.
Plusieurs manifestations sont en cours à #Leipzig en Allemagne à l'appel de groupes de gauche et de droite contre la flambée des prix de l'énergie et la vie chère #le0509 #inflation pic.twitter.com/IHZCbnWJVu
— Anonyme Citoyen (@AnonymeCitoyen) September 5, 2022
Who will be impacted by the fuel price hike decision?
In a statement issued by the Indonesian Trade Union Federation head Said Iqbal informed that close to 5,000 people would protest on late Monday to demand the government revoke the decision to hike subsidized fuel prices. The protest would take place in Jakarta.Des manifestations et affront*ments éclatent en Indonésie contre la vie chère suite à la décision du gouvernement d'augmenter de 30% le prix des carburants #inflation pic.twitter.com/ze8Gj5rJyS
— Anonyme Citoyen (@AnonymeCitoyen) September 5, 2022
Thousands of other people will also protest elsewhere. According to the statement, the fuel price hiking decision has hit the urban poor the hardest, including the farmers, workers, and fishermen.
A sea of people today in Prague at the demonstration against the government and against the high energy bills. 🔥🔥#CzechRepublic #inflation #EnergyCrisis #EnergyPrices #news pic.twitter.com/Gyjt56LUrm
— We Are Protestors (@WeAreProtestors) September 3, 2022
How people are venting anger?
On the weekend and Monday, small rallies took place where students and workers vented anger over the decision by burning tyres and blocking roads. The govt. The decision came when the Indonesian economy was still dizzy from the pandemic's impact and the rising food prices.
Sri Lanka is in the grips of its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. The island nation's 22 million people are suffering through chronic shortages and lengthening blackouts.
Government's response to the protest
On Tuesday, Jakarta police spokesperson Endra Zulpan said that nearly 7000 officers were deployed in and around the capital city ahead of the Tuesday protests. At the same time, regional authorities were instructed by the national police chief to explain why it was necessary to hike fuel prices as this would help them maintain calm.The government has rolled out a series of compensation measures to soften the blow of price hikes as subsidized fuel is a politically sensitive matter in the country. Among the measures, direct cash transfers are one of those.
The president on Saturday said that the price hike was his last option because of the increasing fiscal pressure.
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