Protests in Indonesia Rage On
Police fired tear gas and warning shots at thousands of protesting workers in three Indonesian cities Thursday, while the embattled government delayed fuel price hikes for fear of more unrest.
It was the second straight day of violent protests against new labor laws.
Police shot and wounded at least three people in Sidoarjo, near East Java’s provincial capital, Surabaya. About 3,000 demonstrators blocked roads and attacked police in Bandung in West Java. Warning shots broke up a protest in Waru.
Meanwhile, separatist violence flared in Aceh province, on the northern tip of Sumatra island. At least 10 people were killed in fighting between rebels and government forces.
In an apparent precaution against further trouble, the government announced that it had delayed a 30% hike in state-subsidized prices for gasoline and other fuels.
The price hikes, demanded by the International Monetary Fund as part of an economic reform package, were to have taken effect today.
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