Indonesia's poor suffering as high soy prices hit home
Monday, 18 February 2008
PANDEGLANG, Indonesia, Feb 17 (AFP): With high soybean prices signalling a possible end to cheap staple foods in Indonesia, the suicide of a food vendor has become a symbol of widespread hardship.
Slamet, 49, was found hanging in his house on the morning of January 16, a day after he had made just 8,000 rupiah (85 cents) at the local market in this town in the western Javanese province of Banten, his wife, Nuriah, told AFP.
Spiralling prices for tofu and tempeh, a fermented soy cake, have prompted protests from sellers and panic among households in Indonesia, where there are fears a key source of protein is moving out of reach for millions of poor.
Days before his death, Slamet appeared on television along with other local food sellers protesting the high soybean prices.
"He felt his objections focused on the government, that the government needed to pay attention to poor people like himself," a tearful Nuriah says.
Slamet, 49, was found hanging in his house on the morning of January 16, a day after he had made just 8,000 rupiah (85 cents) at the local market in this town in the western Javanese province of Banten, his wife, Nuriah, told AFP.
Spiralling prices for tofu and tempeh, a fermented soy cake, have prompted protests from sellers and panic among households in Indonesia, where there are fears a key source of protein is moving out of reach for millions of poor.
Days before his death, Slamet appeared on television along with other local food sellers protesting the high soybean prices.
"He felt his objections focused on the government, that the government needed to pay attention to poor people like himself," a tearful Nuriah says.