Indonesian debt

["Ian Murray" <seamus2001@xxxxxxxx>]

[Jakarta Post]
 NO MORE DEBT

JAKARTA: More than one thousand protesters from various non
governmental organizations (NGOs), grouped into the newly-formed
organization the Anti-Debt Coalition (KAU), staged on Wednesday an
anti-foreign debt rally, urging the government to stop talks with the
creditor nations of the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI).

The coalition said that the talks, which are aimed at satisfying the
government's requests for fresh loans from the CGI, would further
burden the already battered Indonesian economy.

"The government must refuse to talk about new loans, and start
demanding that Indonesia's current debt be written off," the coalition
said in a statement.

The rally began at 11 a.m. in front of Hotel Indonesia and continued
at the Bank Indonesia building in Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta where
the CGI members were meeting.

However, a veteran labor activist, Dita Indah Sari, admitted that the
possibility that the government would comply with their demands was
very slim.

"The government's prime concern now is to reschedule its old debts and
to obtain new loans to fill its massive budget deficit," Dita said.

But, the new loans would spell greater burden for the Indonesian
people, she said.

Hundreds of farmers from Tasik, Garut, and Ciamis in West Java also
joined the rally. Sources said the demonstrations would proceed until
Thursday.