New Fuel Pricing, Workers to Shut Down Port “Chances are we will do it."

More workers said toll roads and port gates will be shut down if the government proceeds with the increase of fuel prices by early April.

Chairman of Indonesian Labor Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal, said various efforts have been taken by the workers to block the government from implementing the plan.

“Chances are we will do it. If the government ignores the labor union, then what has happened in Bekasi will take place once again,” Said told VIVAnews, today.

During the protest held before the Presidential Palace yesterday, Said also mentioned that five days prior to fuel price rise, workers will hold another mass protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building.

“We will protest again on March 27 during which the House will hold a plenary session to discuss about the State Budget revision,” he said.

“We will urge House to reject the proposed rise in the revised State Budget, so the government won’t be able to increase fuel prices.”

Reason Behind Fuel Price Rise

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) said the decision to increase fuel price was not an easy one. However, world's crude oil prices are soaring and in effect add more pressures to the State Budget.

Following the meeting in Cikeas with a number of coalition party leaders on March 14, SBY confirmed that any president would have raised the fuel price as other options were deemed difficult.

SBY said the government wanted a sound and effective State Budget. Therefore, the plan to increase fuel price was seen as an adjustment. However, the government also understood that this policy would affect the lives of many.

“When the State Budget is revised, fuel prices would also be adjusted. This will affect the lives of many,” he said.