Protesters greet Boyce in Makassar<\/p>\n
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Muslim students protested the presence of U.S.
\nAmbassador Ralph L. Boyce in the South Sulawesi provincial
\ncapital of Makassar on Monday, accusing the United States of
\nbeing behind the arrest on Saturday of Lasykar Jihad commander
\nJa'far Umar Thalib.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators, who came from two Muslim associations in
\nthe city, said the ambassador should not be allowed to set foot
\nin Makassar because the U.S. was interfering in Indonesia's
\ninternal affairs.<\/p>\n
Ja'far was arrested in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday as he
\nwas traveling to the town of Malang from the restive province of
\nAmbon. The police had attempted to arrest the Lasykar Jihad chief
\nin Makassar, but were prevented from doing so by the overwhelming
\npresence of his supporters.<\/p>\n
"The United States was involved in the arrest of the Lasykar
\nJihad commander. So, according to Islamic law, he (Boyce) is
\nforbidden to set foot in the city," a demonstrator, Sudirman,
\nsaid during a free speech forum in front of Governor HZB
\nPalaguna's official residence, where Boyce and the governor were
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
The demonstration was peaceful, and dozens of officers were
\ndeployed to provide security around the governor's residence.<\/p>\n
In a press conference with local journalists, Boyce said the
\nU.S. would use diplomatic channels and bilateral ties in the
\npolice and intelligence fields, rather than a military approach,
\nin working with other countries, including Indonesia, to fight
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
"This new approach is now under way and we are beginning with
\nan exchange of information," he said.<\/p>\n
Boyce was in Makassar to meet with local officials, tour a
\nnumber of projects that were partly financed by USAID and to look
\ninto the possibilities for U.S. investment in the province.<\/p>",
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