Tribunnews.com
- August 7, 2010
Iwan,
Jakarta – The evil conspiracy to increase the basic electricity rate (TDL) will
impact on the price of basic commodities, particularly food, further burdening
the lives of the poor.
This was
stated by Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) public relations officer Budi
Wardoyo during a speech in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on
Saturday August 7.
"The
capitalist system provides opportunities to the private sector to control food
in order to reap bigger profits and the poor become the victims. This is also
happening with the TDL hikes. Electricity is a vital public necessity, it
should be controlled by the state so that the people can enjoy the facilities",
he said.
The ABM is
accusing the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice
President Boediono (SBY-Boediono) of producing energy policies merely to
benefit a handful of capitalists.
Earlier, the
demonstrators demanded that the government cancel the electricity rate
increases during a long-march towards the State Palace after earlier holding
speeches at the nearby Horse Statue traffic circle.
Although
shivering with cold after more than hour's heavy rain, even more protesters began
arriving and moving off to the Palace after closing Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara.
The joint protest alliance involved more than 50 labour, student and
non-government organisations (NGOs).
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
