JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of rock-throwing Indonesians protesting plans to push up fuel prices by more than 30 percent. Several people were injured and rushed to hospitals.
Rallies were held under tight security in big cities all over the country Tuesday as parliament debated the hike.
Some lawmakers said the government had no choice but to cut budget-busting fuel subsidies, which have for years enabled motorists to fill up for roughly $2 per gallon. Others argued raising prices could more than double inflation to 7 percent.
With global oil prices surging, most Indonesians realize there’s little choice. But that hasn’t stopped thousands in a nation of 240 million, many of whom live in abject poverty, from taking to the streets every day for the last week.
If a price increase is approved, it will go into effect Sunday.
Read more: Photos: Indonesian fuel hike protests turn violent on March 27, 2012 | Denver Post Photos, Video http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2012/03/photos-indonesian-fuel-hike-protests-turn-violent-on-march-27-2012/32637/#ixzz1qTIpQAKj
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Rallies were held under tight security in big cities all over the country Tuesday as parliament debated the hike.
Some lawmakers said the government had no choice but to cut budget-busting fuel subsidies, which have for years enabled motorists to fill up for roughly $2 per gallon. Others argued raising prices could more than double inflation to 7 percent.
With global oil prices surging, most Indonesians realize there’s little choice. But that hasn’t stopped thousands in a nation of 240 million, many of whom live in abject poverty, from taking to the streets every day for the last week.
If a price increase is approved, it will go into effect Sunday.
Read more: Photos: Indonesian fuel hike protests turn violent on March 27, 2012 | Denver Post Photos, Video http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2012/03/photos-indonesian-fuel-hike-protests-turn-violent-on-march-27-2012/32637/#ixzz1qTIpQAKj
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
