DEMO

Indonesian fuel hike protests turn violent on March 27, 2012

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of rock-throwing Indonesians protesting plans to push up fuel prices by more than 30 percent. Several people were injured and rushed to hospitals. Rallies were held under tight security in big cities all over the country Tuesday as parliament debated the hike. Some lawmakers said the government had no choice but to cut budget-busting fuel subsidies, which have for years enabled motorists to fill up for roughly $2 per gallon. Others argued raising prices could more than double inflation to 7 percent. With global oil prices surging, most Indonesians realize there’s little choice. But that hasn’t stopped thousands in a nation of 240 million, many of whom live in abject poverty, from taking to the streets every day for the last week. If a price increase is approved, it will go into effect Sunday.

Indonesian students burn a tire during a rally against the government’s plan to raise prices of fuel, near the Indonesian presidential palace in Surabaya on March 27, 2012. Thousands of Indonesians protested nationwide amid tight security on March 27 to reject the government’s plan to hike the subsidised fuel price in line with rising global oil prices. In Jakarta, more than 20,000 police and soldiers were deployed, amid fears of a repeat of violent protests caused in the past by similar plans to hike the fuel. In 1998, riots and unrest partly triggered by a government fuel price rise brought down the Suharto dictatorship

Indonesian policemen fire tear gas towards students during a protest against the government’s plan to raise prices of fuel, near the Indonesian presidential palace in Makasar on March 27, 2012. Thousands of Indonesians protested nationwide amid tight security on March 27 to reject the government’s plan to hike the subsidised fuel price in line with rising global oil prices. In Jakarta, more than 20,000 police and soldiers were deployed, amid fears of a repeat of violent protests caused in the past by similar plans to hike the fuel. In 1998, riots and unrest partly triggered by a government fuel price rise brought down the Suharto dictatorship. An Indonesian policeman fires tear gas towards students during a protest against the government’s plan to raise prices of fuel, near the Indonesian presidential palace in Jakarta on March 27, 2012. Thousands of Indonesians protested nationwide amid tight security on March 27 to reject the government’s plan to hike the subsidised fuel price in line with rising global oil prices. In Jakarta, more than 20,000 police and soldiers were deployed, amid fears of a repeat of violent protests caused in the past by similar plans to hike the fuel. In 1998, riots and unrest partly triggered by a government fuel price rise brought down the Suharto dictatorship Indonesian students clash with police during protest sagaints planned fuel price rises on March 27, 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Thousands of Indonesians students gathered near the Indonesian presidential palace to protest the governments plans to increase the price of subsidised fuel to Rp 6,000 (US$ 0.65) a Litre 

Coment :

I think the demo is very important in Indonesia this country, as well as in other countries. Demo performed by a person to correct or give warning to the government, because I think the demo is the most effective tools to convey the aspirations or expectations of a strong community desire for the government. Demo is mandatory because of the absence demopejabat our country will not be aware of the attention to his people, which they penrhatikan only self-interest.
Any person of any country including the State of Indonesia has the right to basic or fundamental rights are taken by humans from birth that is inherent in every human nature and can not be contested because it is the grace of God Almighty. One example is one of personal rights is like giving opinions and the right to obtain justice. 

Suggestions / solutions:

 
We recommend that the demo was not done by force or anarchist. Because if the demo is done by many anarchists of the aggrieved party, be it yourself, others, the government and the environment. Examples like the demo at the time of the fuel price hike. There was so much damaged by the protesters as the House fence, pamphlets, photographs president, and also burnt tires are not spared by the demonstrators.
Result is given of the anarchist demo itself is in addition to the environmental damage is also the State out of money again to fix the vehicle has been vandalized by protesters. Is not this an unfortunate thing and since

Rare river porpoise deaths cause concern

Within the last month and a half, the corpes of 12 endangered finless porpoises, including a pregnant one, have been found around Dongting Lake, Hunan province.

It has triggered worries from experts about the rare species possibly becoming extinct.

Scientists said finless porpoises, which have lived in the Yangtze River and adjacent lakes for more than 20 million years, will become extinct within 15 years. The porpoises are also called “river pigs”.

“Apparently the prolonged drought and low water level due to climate change and increasing offshore human activities are reducing the living space for finless porpoises, accelerating their extinction,” said Wang Kexiong, an expert of the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Xie Yongjun, an associate professor of animal husbandry at Yueyang Vocational and Technical College, said the porpoises may have died due to starvation, poisoning or infectious disease.

The Yueyang bureau of aquatic products and animal husbandry is also testing the water in Dongting Lake. A report is expected soon.

Animal rights groups seek performance ban

Animal rights groups are calling for a ban on all animal performances in China, including live shows, petting zoos and photo sessions.

Animal performances and circus shows, especially in Beijing, have “seriously impaired the country’s and city’s image with brutality and savage behavior”, Liu Huili, an animal rights supporter and researcher with Green Beagle, a Beijing-based non-governmental organization, said at a symposium on April 14.

Attendees at the symposium, including researchers and volunteers from Green Beagle, China Zoo Watch and the Beijing Loving Animals Foundation, proposed the performance ban, especially in the capital city.

China Zoo Watch conducted a study from January 2011 to the end of March, in which it surveyed more than 40 zoos nationwide. It found than animal performances, which it claims often involve acts of cruelty, are common nationwide.

About 50 percent of urban zoos, 91 percent of animal parks and 89 percent of aquariums offer such performances, according to the survey.

Performances include animal wire walking, jumping through fire loops, standing upside down and boxing, which “might seriously impair the animals’ physical and psychological health”, Liu said.

1st national cancer center to open

China’s first national cancer center will be inaugurated within the year to enhance the country’s capacity for prevention, early screening and  treatment of the disease, said a senior health official.

Lei Zhenglong, deputy director of the disease prevention and control bureau of the Ministry of Health, made the remarks at an event to mark National Cancer  Week, which starts on April 15 every year.

“The cancer center, to be headquartered at the Cancer Institute and Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, will help better guide the government in making policies and taking countermeasures to curb the rising incidenceof cancer,” he said.

The mainland records about 2.8 million new cancer cases each year, and the number is expected to exceed 3.8 million  in a decade, official statistics show. Lung cancer is the most common and also has the highest mortality ratein the country.

The center will assist the Ministry of Health in devising a State-level action plan for cancer intervention, said He Jie, president of the hospital.