Antiwar protesters expand targets to non-U.S. missions<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Rallies to protest against the attack on Iraq continued on
\nThursday across the country, with demonstrators in some cities
\nexpanding their targets to parties not affiliated with the United
\nStates or its allies.<\/p>\n
Some 20 protesters of the Islamic Students Alumni Association
\n(KAHMI) staged a rally in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy on
\nJl. M.T. Haryono, East Jakarta to protest the kingdom's
\nindifference to the U.S.-led incursion of Iraq.<\/p>\n
The protesters deplored Saudi Arabia's inaction.<\/p>\n
\"Saudi Arabia must also be blamed for its failure to prevent
\nthe outbreak of the war which has brought suffering to the Iraqi
\npeople,\" said a protester.<\/p>\n
To express their disappointment, the protesters also urged the
\nIndonesian government to boycott all products from Saudi Arabia
\nand to halt economic and political cooperation.<\/p>\n
In the Central Java city of Surakarta, at least 3,000
\nprotesters grouped under the Islamic Congregation of Surakarta
\n(UIS) took to the streets to condemn the attack. They gathered at
\nthe Gladag traffic circle on Jl. Slamet Riyadi in downtown
\nSurakarta.<\/p>\n
The rally was led by cleric Wahyudin, deputy director of Al
\nMukmin boarding school whose leader, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is under
\ndetention for treason.<\/p>\n
The protesters also pasted stickers to call for a boycott of
\nall American products at American licensed fast-food outlet
\nKentucky Fried Chicken nearby.<\/p>\n
Similar antiwar rallies were to follow later in the day in
\nother venues like the Press Monument and the official residence
\nof the mayor.<\/p>\n
Around 1,000 Muslim activists grouped under Hizbut Tahrir went
\nto the West Java Legislature in Bandung to express their demand
\nfor an end to the Iraq war and the sending of multinational
\npeace-keepers to help the Iraq people recover from the impact of
\nthe war.<\/p>\n
The protesters, led by former rock singer Harry Mukti, marched
\nfrom Al-Ukuwah mosque on Jl. Wastukancana to the legislative
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, around 400 high
\nschool students of the Indonesian Association of Students of
\nMakassar (PPIM) marched from Mandala Monument on Jl. Jend.
\nSudirman to the Losari beach, where they read out antiwar poems
\nand recited prayers for the cessation of the war.<\/p>\n
In the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, dozens of protesters rallied
\nin front of the Malaysian Consulate to demand that Indonesia
\nsever diplomatic ties with the U.S.<\/p>\n
One of the people said they targeted the Malaysian Consulate
\nas they could no longer expect the Indonesian government to
\ncomply with their demand.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar reiterated
\non Thursday his promise to provide security for U.S. business
\ninterests and its allies.<\/p>\n
\"The police are doing their job of taking measures to improve
\nsecurity in the country, including protecting foreign interests
\nand foreigners,\" Da'i said after signing a Memorandum of
\nUnderstanding in Jakarta on a security operation in support of
\nthe national tourism program.<\/p>\n
He dismissed reports that a group of expatriates working in
\nAmerican oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia in Riau had left
\nthe province due to fear of violent rallies.<\/p>\n
\"They left for Singapore, Thailand and Bali on vacation. It is
\nnot true that they have left the country because they felt
\ninsecure.<\/p>\n
Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yosgiantoro
\nalso gave his assurance for the safety of expatriates working in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
But, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo acknowledged
\nthey would not able to provide protection for all American
\ncompanies, especially the numerous fast-food restaurants due to
\nlimited personnel.<\/p>\n
Prasetyo also said the protection would be limited to the
\nrestaurants' compounds.<\/p>\n
\"We can guarantee the security of the restaurants and their
\ncustomers while they are inside. But, of course, it's impossible
\nfor us to guarantee their safety outside the premises,\" said
\nPrasetyo.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party Almuzammil
\nYusuf said one million people from various religions and cultures
\nare expected to turn up for the biggest antiwar rally in the
\ncountry scheduled for Sunday in Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/antiwar-protesters-expand-targets-to-non-us-missions-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}