Imam orders probe into U.S. Consulate attack in Surabaya<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): East Java Governor Imam Utomo said on Friday he
\nhad instructed the police to thoroughly investigate last week's
\nattack on the American Consulate in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
\"The vandalism, including the burning of the American flag,
\ndeserves a thorough probe. The action tarnished Indonesia's image
\nabroad. The police must uncover those behind the demonstration
\nand what the real motive was,\" Imam said.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 15 a group of around 50 youths belonging to several
\norganizations marched to the U.S. Consulate on Jl. Dr. Sutomo
\nhere to protest what they perceived as American intervention in
\nIndonesia's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
They held orations in front of the consulate, protesting U.S.
\n'intervention' in Atambua, West Nusa Tenggara, where three UN
\nvolunteer workers were killed recently.<\/p>\n
Failing to get the appropriate attention they believed they
\ndeserved, protesters then climbed the consulate' fence, dragged
\ndown the U.S. flag and set it on fire.<\/p>\n
A similar action also took place in Jakarta on Tuesday when
\ndozens of people belonging to a group called Youth and Students
\nfor the People's Mandate burned an American flag. They accused
\nAmerica of intervening in Indonesia's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
Such actions have apparently disgraced Indonesia in the eyes
\nof world and weakened Indonesian diplomacy over the Atambua
\nkillings.<\/p>\n
The Atambua killings triggered strong reactions from the U.S.
\ngovernment and the United Nations. A UN Security Council
\nresolution on the matter was issued shortly after the slayings.<\/p>\n
In a visit to Indonesia on Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary
\nWilliam Cohen said an embargo might be imposed on Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Soon after the Surabaya incident, police questioned at least
\n10 people and arrested two of them.<\/p>\n
\"The two are now in police custody. They are both pedicab
\ndrivers who admitted getting paid Rp 10,000 for the protest,\"
\nSurabaya Police chief Sr. Supt. Sri Kersno said. He did not
\nidentify the men.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that two other men identified as Soedjatmiko,
\nfrom an organization called Bhaladhika Karya, and Gatot of FKPPI
\nhad also been questioned. Both groups are for children of
\nsoldiers.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, another FKPPI member, identified as Soegeng, was
\npicked up by the police for allegedly instigating the move.<\/p>\n
Sri Kersno said that Soegeng has admitted that somebody gave
\nhim Rp 1.2 million to organize an attack on the U.S. consulate
\ngeneral. Soegeng did not identify the person who put up the
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
Sri Kersno did not explain why the becak drivers were detained
\nfor joining the protest for Rp 10,000, while Soegeng was not.
\n(nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/imam-orders-probe-into-us-consulate-attack-in-surabaya-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}