Anti-U.S. protests revived in Surakarta<\/p>\n
Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Muslims in Surakarta held a mass gathering
\non Sunday to renew their protest at the killing of innocent
\nMuslim people in the continuing military strikes by the United
\nStates and its allies on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The protesters, who came from around 40 Muslim organizations
\nin the town, held the gathering a week after their journey to
\nJakarta, where they had joined forces with other Muslims to stage
\nanti-U.S. demonstrations in front of the U.S. Embassy.<\/p>\n
They wore traditional Muslim clothing while carrying with them
\nanti-U.S. banners reading, Bersatulah Umat Muslim melawan kafir
\nAmerica dan sekutunya, (Muslim people should be united in
\nfighting against the infidel America and its allies) and Osama
\nbin Laden mujahidin bukan terrorist (Osama bin Laden is a holy
\nfighter, not a terrorist).<\/p>\n
Hari Mulyadi, coordinator of the gathering, said it had been
\nheld to renew the strong protest of Muslims at the human tragedy
\nin Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\"We want the U.S. and its allies to pull out of Afghanistan to
\navoid a tragedy worse than what happened on Sept. 11,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also denied that the anti-U.S. demonstration was aimed at
\ntoppling President Megawati Soekarnoputri. \"The demonstration has
\nnothing to do with any alleged attempts to topple the President,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Zainal Arifin, chairman of the local chapter of the Indonesian
\nUlemas Association, guaranteed foreigners' safety in the town.<\/p>\n
\"No Muslim people will be allowed to seek American and British
\nnationals in order to expel them. We guarantee the security of
\nforeigners, including American and British citizens, living in
\nthe town,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anti-us-protests-revived-in-surakarta-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}