Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono has strongly criticized statements by politicians and experts opposing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decision to raise fuel prices.

He said media coverage of the price increase and its impact had also been unfair.

"With all respect to experts and politicians, their statements on the fuel price rise policy are hypocritical. In reality, they acknowledge the President's courage in taking such a bold move," he said in a press conference Tuesday.

The minister is upbeat the public will come to respect the unpopular policy because it was designed to prevent the state budget from collapsing.

"He (Yudhoyono) is a good person. He dared to make the decision to raise fuel prices for the sake of the poor, even though it goes against the views of the experts who criticized him," Juwono said.

The government raised fuel prices by an average 28.7 percent last week in an effort to help salvage the state budget, which has been strained by soaring crude oil prices. The price of oil has passed US$133 per barrel — more than double last year's price.

Under the policy, Premium gasoline rose to Rp 6,000 (65 US cents) a liter, up from Rp 4,500. A liter of diesel fuel rose from Rp 4,300 to Rp 5,500 and kerosene from Rp 2,000 to Rp 2,500.

The government is providing low-income families with cash assistance of Rp 100,000 per month until the end of the year to help offset the impact of the price rise.

The fuel price rise has sparked protests nationwide.

Juwono said experts and politicians had delivered unbalanced perspectives through television talk shows and advertisements.

"If I were one of the advertisers, I would ask myself whether the message in the ads would please or displease people," he said without providing further details.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla earlier protested against an advertisement run by former general Wiranto. The ad says President Yudhoyono had promised not to increase fuel prices.

Juwono said the global price of oil had left the government with no other option.

"Whoever the president was, he or she would have had to raise fuel prices. It takes the courage of a leader," he said.