Balinese Mass Organizations Protest Against Fuel Price Hike

Denpasar, Bali (Antara Bali) - Balinese mass organizations grouped in the Alliance of People Rejecting Fuel Price Hike staged a rally in front of Bajra Sandhi Monument during a car-free day on Sunday.

"We firmly reject the Jokowi-JK government`s policy to raise fuel prices," spokesman for the alliance Retno Dewi said.

The alliance also demanded that the government lift the energy and mineral resources minister`s decree number 2486/MEM/2015.
During the rally, the alliance also called on the people to protest against the fuel price policy by any means.

"In the era of the Jokowi-JK government, the fuel prices had ever been raised, leading to an increase in the prices of other goods. Though the fuel prices were later lowered the prices of other commodities had not declined ever since," she said.

Retno predicted the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would increase following the fuel price hike, adding to the burden of low-income people.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said earlier the fuel prices rose Rp500 a liter as of Saturday (March 28) due to the rupiah`s weakening against the US dollar.

"We know that the rupiah still hovers above Rp13,000 per dollar while the oil prices also have increased again," he said.
The fuel price hike would surely have positive and negative impacts, he noted.

The government has raised the prices of premium gasoline and diesel fuel by Rp500 per liter, respectively, which is effective on Saturday (March 28). (WDY)