Hundreds rally against sweeping<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Some 400 residents from Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta,
\nstaged a peaceful rally against the sweeping (searching for and
\nattempting to expel) of foreigners, on Hotel Indonesia traffic
\ncircle in Central Jakarta on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators, including housewives and children, called
\non the public to remain calm in facing conflict between
\nAfghanistan and the United States.<\/p>\n
\"We are against sweeps of foreigners, terrorism and violence,\"
\none of the protesters was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Unfurling banners and posters, the demonstrators urged the
\ngovernment, scholars and political elite to prioritize issues of
\nnational importance.<\/p>\n
They suggested the government concentrate more on solving
\ndomestic problems in the restive provinces of Aceh and Maluku,
\nand the refugee problem in East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
On Friday, hundreds of residents in Tebet, South Jakarta also
\nstaged a rally against the sweeping of foreigners.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, residents of Jl. Jaksa, Central Jakarta,
\nestablished an anti-sweeping forum. Jl. Jaksa is very popular as
\na location for short-term accommodation for foreign backpackers.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people participated in anti-U.S. rallies over
\nseveral days last week in front of the U.S. Embassy on Jl. Medan
\nMerdeka Selatan, the UN office on Jl. M.H. Thamrin and the House
\nof Representatives building on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
One of the rallies, conducted by the Islamic Defenders Front
\non Oct. 15, ended in a clash with police officers. Dozens of
\ndemonstrators were injured, while 12 of them were arrested.<\/p>\n
The anti-U.S. rallies have been a cause of concern to the
\ngovernment and analysts as they have started to damage the
\nefforts aimed at economic recovery.<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz, who is also chairman of the
\nIslamic-based United Development Party, has called on the public
\nto stop the anti-U.S. demonstrations.<\/p>",
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"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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