The clash occurred after the students, who claimed to be members of the Coalition To Restore the People`s Rights to the Father Land (Koptahat), forced themselves into the tightly guarded East Lombok district legislative council (DPRD) building.
Demonstrators and police pushed and beat each other while the demonstrators were trying to break past the police blockade. However, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
After speaking with the police, the students were allowed to hold a peaceful rally in the DPRD building compound.
The students intended to meet with leaders and members of the legislative assembly to express their opinions. However, they could only meet with DPRD leaders of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Reform Star Party (PBR).
The students refused to start a dialog with these parties and demanded a meeting with all leaders and members of the DPRD and factions to get them to sign what they termed an integrity pact to reject the planned fuel price hike.
On Monday, the House of Representatives Budget Committee agreed to set aside Rp 137 trillion for fuel subsidies and Rp 64.9 trillion for electricity subsidies in the state budget, allowing the government to raise consumer prices for these energy sources.
The Indonesian government is planning to raise the price of subsidized fuel by Rp 1.5 thousand to Rp 6 thousand per liter on April 1, citing a surge in global crude prices that may put a strain on the state budget. However, the plan has sparked demonstrations in several parts of the country.
Several people were injured in a rally against the fuel price hike in Jakarta on Tuesday (March 27).
(Uu.S012/INE/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
