Student Demos In Jember Aggung The Role Of The Government Against Subsidized High-Level Fuel Concentrators

Jember students rallied at the Jember DPRD roundabout, Tuesday (6/9/2022). ANTARA/Zumrotun Solichah

JEMBER - Hundreds of students from various elements of the demonstration campus at the Jember Regency DPRD roundabout, East Java, Tuesday, September 6. The masses criticized the government's policy of increasing the price of subsidized fuel.

The mass of students first went longmarch from the twin roads of the Jember University Campus to the local DPRD roundabout carrying a number of posters containing protests about the increase in fuel prices.

"The increase in fuel has a negative impact on the community's economic sector and household economic growth," said action coordinator David Rizal Firmansyah after a speech at the Jember DPRD roundabout, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, September 6.

Orator said, there is inequality in the consumption pattern of subsidized fuel based on data on the use of pertalite and bio solar. In his speech, he said that 80 percent of the subsidized fuel is consumed by the upper middle class while the rest are only enjoyed by the lower middle class.

"This empirical condition has become a special concern and a dilemma, especially the existence of the government as a principal in managing institutional aspects in terms of providing fuel as a vital instrument of the economy and community welfare," he said.

The mass of students also asked for tax reform and realized a fair tax. Orator invites the public to oversee government policies that are not in favor of the people.

"We have called out seven demands in joint demonstrations with various elements of students, including asking the government not to increase fuel prices and basic electricity rates, urging the government to evaluate the performance of oil and gas BPH, and urging the government to immediately eradicate rent-seeking," he said.

"We also ask for the commitment of DPRD members to sign an integrity pact to reject the increase in fuel prices because the policy is clearly detrimental to the people," he continued.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Jember DPRD, M. Itqon Syauqi, promised to continue the aspirations of the students who are members of the Cipayung Plus Jember Alliance to the central government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

"We will convey the student aspirations through electronic mail and will also be submitted directly to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, so we also forward the integrity pact to the faction chairman for signature," he said.

The demonstration of hundreds of Jember students from elements of PMII, HMI, GMNI, IMM, KAMMI, LMND, and KMHDI received strict security. A total of 430 police personnel were alerted at a number of points to secure the demonstration.