Anti-government rallies mark Indonesian administration's 100th day

Thu, 28 Jan 2010

Jakarta - Thousands of people took to the streets of Indonesian cities Thursday to demand President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's resignation as his government marked 100 days in office. Much of the protesters' criticism was leveled against Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who approved the controversial bail-out of a small bank in 2008.

Critics of the administration charged that the 2008 bail-out of Bank Century at the height of the financial crisis was designed to save the money of individuals with close connections to the president.

They alleged the account holders whose money was saved went on to help bankroll Yudhoyono's re-election campaign last year.

Protesters tried to break into barricades set up by police at the presidential palace in Jakarta, chanting, "SBY go!" referring to Yudhoyono by his initials.

Another group of protesters rallied outside the heavily guarded office of Boediono, who was governor of the central bank when the bail-out took place.

They chanted, "Boediono thief!" and held up posters depicting him and Indrawati as blood-drooling vampires.

"We want SBY, Boediono and Sri Mulyani to resign immediately because we don't want to be led by thieves," said Indra Maulana, a protester.

Police estimated 10,000 people took part in the Jakarta rally.

Parliament has launched an inquiry into the bail-out, and its investigative committee has already questioned Boediono and Indrawati, seen by the business community as reform-minded and capable technocrats.

A poll released Wednesday showed Yudhoyono's job approval rating dropped from 85 per cent in July to 70 per cent.

The Indonesian Survey Institute attributed the drop to dissatisfaction with the president's progress concerning law enforcement and the economy.

Yudhoyono won a second five-year term in a July presidential election on promises to fight graft and boost the economy.

He denied the corruption allegations over the bank bail-out, saying it aimed to prevent a crisis in the banking system.

Yudhoyono's popularity was also hit by a scandal in which police and prosecutors allegedly framed two deputies of the Corruption Eradication Commission in what appeared to be a high-level conspiracy to weaken the graft-busting agency.

Corruption charges against the two deputies were dropped late last year at Yudhoyono's request following intense public pressure.

On Thursday, several other cities saw public demonstrations.

In Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, protesters clashed with police while in Banten province near Jakarta, demonstrators burned a picture of the president.

Yudhoyono, who was at the opening ceremony of a power plant in Pandeglang, 50 kilometers west of the capital, called on protesters to act "in peace."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/306288,anti-government-rallies-mark-indonesian-administrations-100th-day.html.