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Pati Fishermen Protest Soaring Fuel Prices, Demand Special Subsidy
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Pati Fishermen Protest Soaring Fuel Prices, Demand Special Subsidy

From CNN Indonesia · (6m ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Thousands of fishermen in Pati, Central Java, protested the rising cost of non-subsidized diesel fuel, which hinders their ability to work.
  • Protesters demanded a special subsidized fuel price for fishermen, threatening to march to the central government if their demands are not met.
  • Local officials met with the fishermen, promising to convey their demands to the central government and advocating for a fair fuel price.

Pati's fishermen have voiced their deep frustration over the soaring prices of non-subsidized diesel fuel, a critical component of their livelihood. The current prices have made it virtually impossible for 80% of the local fishing community to go out to sea, crippling their operations and threatening their very profession.

We cannot work without solar.

— OratorDuring a speech at the protest, highlighting the direct impact of fuel prices on their ability to work.

Gathering in large numbers outside the Pati Regent's office, the fishermen, represented by the Central Java Fishermen's Association, pleaded for government intervention. They are not asking for charity, but for a fair price, specifically requesting that non-subsidized diesel be capped at Rp10,000. This is a matter of survival, as the operational costs now far outweigh any potential earnings, jeopardizing food security initiatives that rely on their catch.

This has paralyzed us completely, we cannot move with the significant increase in fuel prices, lower it according to our fishing capabilities.

— OratorExplaining the dire economic consequences of high fuel prices on the fishing industry.

The fishermen's plight highlights a critical disconnect between national economic policies and the realities faced by local communities. While the government may focus on broader economic stability, the immediate impact on essential sectors like fishing cannot be ignored. The fishermen's willingness to escalate their protest to the central government underscores the urgency of their situation.

The price of fuel is 4 times higher, how can we support food security when the operational costs are higher than what we get. Special pricing is needed because if the government does not take immediate action, we fishermen will march to the central government.

— OratorEmphasizing the unsustainable cost of fuel and the potential for further action.

Local leaders, including the Acting Regent and the DPRD Chairman, have acknowledged the severity of the issue and have pledged to champion the fishermen's cause. Their meeting with the protesters and subsequent engagement with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries demonstrate a commitment to finding a resolution. However, the ultimate solution rests with the central government's willingness to implement a special fuel pricing policy that recognizes the unique challenges faced by the fishing industry.

We are at risk of losing our profession as fishermen. Therefore, we together ask the central government, through Pati, to convey our request for a non-subsidized fuel price of Rp10,000.

— RiswantoRepresenting the Central Java Fishermen's Association, stating the specific price demand.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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