Oct 31 2007
Demonstrators stage protest against Indonesia’s anti-monopoly watchdog
INDONESIA : Some 500 protesters from an alliance of Indonesian university students, civil organisations and labour unions staged a noisy demonstration in front of the office of Indonesia’s anti-monopoly watchdog in Jakarta.
They are demanding for the removal of the head of the watchdog and the replacement of all its members.
They alleged that the Business Competition Supervisory Committee (KPPU) has wrongfully prosecuted state-owned enterprises for alleged anti-competition practices, creating uncertainties in the business environment.
The protesters then proceeded to the presidential palace to deliver their petition.
Only the president - upon the advice of the parliament - can replace and appoint members of the KPPU.
The protesters come from the Nationalist Indonesian Students Alliance (AMNI) which represents students from more than 10 universities in Jakarta, the National Coalition of Workers Union, and two civic organisations.
The group highlighted three recent cases which they accuse the KPPU of mishandling.
Among them - the current probe on Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings and its subsidiaries Singapore Technologies Telemedia and Singapore Telecom.
The KPPU has accused Temasek of violating Indonesia’s anti-monopoly laws through the two subsidiaries which have stakes in Indonesian telecom operators Indosat and Telkomsel - charges that Temasek has denied.
The group alleged that the watchdog’s probe into Temasek has been influenced by a Russian company who was said to be interested in Singapore Technologies Telemedia’s shares in Indosat.
“The allegation that KPPU was contaminated by a Russian company, Altimo is getting obvious. It’s meant to pressure the Singapore company to sell its shares,” said Arief Puyono, head of the Federation of United Workers Union for State-Owned Enterprise.
“To me, these are bad for the future, and more so when President Yudhoyono has a programme to attract foreign investment to speed up economic growth.” - CNA /ls
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