The below appeal for solidarity was posted on < htt. Please send messages of support to arahkiri2009@yahoo.com.
Popular resistance to petrol price rises has been continuously sparking protests around Indonesia. Since the Indonesian government officially announced a fuel price rise on May 23, resistance has spread across the country.
On May 26, the National Students' League for Democracy (LMND), an affiliate of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papaernas), together with various student organisations started hunger strikes in 14 provinces to oppose the fuel price rise as well as to demand the nationalisation of Indonesia's oil and mining industries.
The student actions have gained broad sympathy. At the hunger strike "posts", students have hung banners proclaiming "Nationalise Mining Industries, Repudiate Foreign Debt and Reject any Government that is Pro-foreign Interest".
A significant number of hunger strikers have had to be taken to the hospital. On May 28, all hunger strikers in Jakarta were ordered to stop their strike after having been diagnosed with digestion problems. "Moreover these strikers were activists that used to actively take to the streets to protest oil price rise, consequently their physiques were weak since the beginning", Jakarta hunger strike post coordinator, Nugo, explained.
By May 30, three out of six hunger strikers in Palembang remained on strike. Three hunger strikers in Siantar and one in Semarang had to be taken to hospital. A striker from Lampung was hospitalised after suddenly falling unconscious.
In Palu, Central Sulawesi, the hunger strike post located at the Provincial House of Representatives building was destroyed during a clash between students and police, during which the LMND's regional chairperson was beaten and arrested. By May 31, hunger strikes were continuing in Siantar Riau, Semarang, Salatiga, Kudus, and Semarang. Visit < http://asia-A HREF=\"mailto:pacific-action.org\">pacific-action.org for updates.