Foreign missions vandalized<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Protesters vandalized the U.S. consulate office
\nand the Western Australia trade representative office here on
\nMonday, venting their anger at what they perceive to be foreign
\nmeddling in Indonesia's domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
Several groups of protesters also marched to the Australian
\nEmbassy in Jakarta on Monday in the latest backlash against
\nforeign missions after Indonesia suffered the international
\nindignation of having to accept an international peacekeeping
\nforce in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Some 1,000 people brought down the fence of the U.S. consulate
\noffice on Jl. Dr. Soetomo, lowered the Old Glory flag from the
\nmast and then burned it.<\/p>\n
They also burned the United Nations flag.<\/p>\n
The demonstrations caused massive traffic congestion on Jl.
\nRaya Darmo.<\/p>\n
The protesters, calling themselves the Youth Front Against
\nForeign Interference, forced their way through the cordon of
\noutnumbered security forces.<\/p>\n
The group's leader, identified as Hasan Basri Usman, addressed
\nthe protesters standing on a becak, yelling anti-American slogans
\nas he urged them to continue marching toward the consulate
\noffices.<\/p>\n
\"Crush the American colonialists,\" he screamed.<\/p>\n
He gave the order to vandalize the fence, but cautioned the
\ncrowd against entering the compound.<\/p>\n
The protesters later marched four kilometers to the World
\nTrade Center building, which houses the Western Australia trade
\nrepresentative office.<\/p>\n
They were met with a cordon of security officers, who allowed
\n10 protesters to enter the building to make their point.<\/p>\n
The protesters, who found the office empty, smashed the glass
\ndoors and vandalized computers, office equipment and files.<\/p>\n
Surabaya and Perth, the capital of Western Australia, have a
\nsister city arrangement.<\/p>\n
The protesters later marched to the East Java Legislative
\nCouncil building before they dispersed.<\/p>\n
Police refused to comment on the incident.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the Australian Embassy, on Jl. Rasuna Said, was
\nthe target of demonstrations by four separate groups on Monday,
\nall but one denounced Canberra's policy in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The three anti-Australian protesters were the Young Renewal
\nGeneration of Indonesia (AMPI) with 50 people, Kosgoro Students
\nMovement with 12 people and Kosgoro Management School with 30
\npeople.<\/p>\n
They accused Australian Prime Minister John Howard of using
\nthe East Timor crisis for his own political ambitions.<\/p>\n
\"We reject Australia's involvement. Its government has turned
\nEast Timor into a political commodity,\" Eko Sulistio Santosa of
\nthe Kosgoro Management School said.<\/p>\n
Protesters burned an effigy of a man wearing a T-shirt with \"I
\nam Howard Australia\" written on it.<\/p>\n
The fourth group of protesters, Human Rights Support for
\nIndonesia (HRSI), came with 40 people, with the message that all
\ncountries, including Australia, should promote peace.<\/p>\n
\"The use of force is not a solution,\" HRSI coordinator
\nBudijono said.<\/p>\n
The group, carrying a large banner with a message of peace,
\nearlier visited the United Nations building on Jl. Thamrin with
\nthe same message. (nur\/03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-missions-vandalized-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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