Eggs thrown at RI's liaison office in Taipei<\/p>\n
TAIPEI (Agencies): Hundreds of demonstrators hurled eggs at
\nIndonesia's representative office in Taipei yesterday to protest
\nthe alleged rape of ethnic Chinese women during the Jakarta riots
\nin May.<\/p>\n
They burned incense sticks and set up an altar to mourn the
\nethnic Chinese killed during the May riots.<\/p>\n
Shouting slogans and tossing paper money into the air to mourn
\nthe victims of the riot, they demanded Indonesia punish the
\nrapists and compensate the victims.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia must amend its constitution to guarantee equal
\ntreatment of both native Indonesians and immigrants," one
\nprotester said.<\/p>\n
"Only so can the eight million ethnic Chinese live without
\nfear of being discriminated against."<\/p>\n
The protest was organized by the New Party and the Association
\nof Returned Overseas Chinese in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The protesters marched on to the Foreign Ministry to demand
\nTaiwan allow Indonesia's ethnic Chinese under the age of 24 to
\nstudy in Taiwan schools.<\/p>\n
Lawmaker Lee Ching-hua, who led the protesters, demanded that
\nthe Indonesian government apologize, compensate the victims and
\nreassure to the world similar incidents will never happen again.<\/p>\n
Taiwan and Indonesia have no diplomatic ties but have
\nrepresentative offices in each other's capitals to issue visas
\nand handle trade.<\/p>\n
Taiwan has condemned the atrocities against ethnic Chinese
\nwomen and urged Jakarta to investigate the rapes and punish the
\nculprits. Taipei said it would allow the rape victims to come to
\nTaiwan to seek medical treatment.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Jason Hu said Indonesian President B.J.
\nHabibie has assured Taiwan officials that authorities will
\nseverely punish those responsible.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, organizers of a world conference of Chinese writers
\nsaid five ethnic Chinese writers were barred from leaving for
\nTaiwan. The writers were to report on the atrocities in Indonesia
\nat the meeting that opened yesterday, they said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Beijing, China yesterday urged the Indonesian
\ngovernment to punish rioters who brutalized the country's ethnic
\nChinese minority during disturbances.<\/p>\n
The Communist Party newspaper People's Daily said that justly
\ntreating ethnic Chinese and safeguarding their lives and property
\nwould help restore Indonesia's international prestige and attract
\ninvestment, speeding economic recovery.<\/p>\n
Indonesian authorities "should look squarely at the facts with
\na serious attitude, take genuinely strong steps as soon as
\npossible, sternly punish lawbreakers," the newspaper said in a
\nfront-page commentary.<\/p>\n
People's Daily articles are vetted by senior officials and
\nreflect government thinking.<\/p>\n
The People's Daily said ethnic Chinese were continuing to make
\n"unremitting efforts" to help Indonesia's economy recover.<\/p>\n
"As positive, important members of Indonesian society, their
\nlegal rights should be respected, their lives and property should
\nbe protected effectively," the newspaper said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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