Govt told to prevent violent protests<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the antiwar protests become rowdier, scholars urged the
\ngovernment on Sunday to swiftly move to prevent them turning
\nviolent.<\/p>\n
Haedar Nashir, the secretary-general of Muhammadiyah, the
\nsecond largest Muslim organization in the country, called on the
\ngovernment to invite the representatives of the protesters for
\ntalks to calm them down.<\/p>\n
"Having conducted more talks, it could create a sense that the
\ngovernment has accommodated the protesters' wishes and
\naspirations," Haedar told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
A political analyst from the Surabaya-based Airlangga
\nUniversity, Daniel Sparingga, shared Haedar's view and said
\ndialogue could also be used by the government to convince them
\nthat the Iraq war had nothing to do with religion.<\/p>\n
"The government must convince people that the U.S. attack on
\nIraq has nothing to do with religion," Daniel told the Post.<\/p>\n
"And the government must tell them that any violent protests
\nwill not be tolerated."<\/p>\n
Thousands of people held antiwar protests across the country
\nover the weekend. However, a protest by militant groups such as
\nthe Islam Defenders Front (FPI) forced the closure of a
\nMcDonald's restaurant in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, FPI protesters burned flags of the U.S., Britain,
\nIsrael and Australia during an antiwar demonstration outside the
\nU.S. Embassy in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Many worry that the provocative protests by minority militant
\ngroups could turn violent.<\/p>\n
Once the protests turn violent, Daniel warned, it would
\nfurther damage Indonesia's image, and foreigners would
\nimmediately start to flee Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"If that happens, the impact will be severer on Indonesia.
\nIndonesia's image will be ruined in the eyes of the international
\ncommunity. Indonesia's economy will then be hit hard because
\ninvestors will shy away," he added.<\/p>\n
Haedar acknowledged that, and therefore urged people to remain
\nrational whey staging protests.<\/p>\n
"Antiwar protests are shows of humanitarian solidarity that we
\nshould support. But, they should not turn violent. Especially if
\nthis were to lead to attacks on foreigners."<\/p>\n
"We must avoid violence as this goes against both humanitarian
\nand religious value, the values that people must continue to
\nadhere to while protesting the U.S. attack on Iraq," Haedar said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-told-to-prevent-violent-protests-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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