"ACFTA has worsened the Indonesian economy. We asked the government to cancel the trade accord," the rally`s coordinator, Imam Syafei, said.
The students who claimed to be members of the Pancasila Students Movement (Mapancas) urged the Trade Ministry, the Industry Ministry and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Indonesian Businessmen Association (Apindo) to evaluate the trade accord with China.
They also urged the West Java governor and the local chapter of Kadin to stop the flow of Chinese products to the province.
"The government must have the gut to cancel the accord for the sake of the Indonesian economy in the future. The competitive edge of national industries has now been declining as a result of ACFTA," he said.
Mapancas was of the view Indonesia had been suffering a large deficit in its trade with China since the ACFTA was fully implemented as of early last year.
During the rally, the students also asked the government to encourage pro-people economy and avoid policies that might have an adverse impact in the future.
"Indonesia must have the gut to state an objection to the ACFTA," he said.
(T.S033/S012/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
