Anti-U.S. demos go on, embassy tightly guarded

JAKARTA (JP): Muslim students and activists staged demonstrations in major cities in Java on Wednesday to press their demand that the U.S. drop any plans to bomb Afghanistan.

In Jakarta, police tightened security at the American Embassy where demonstrations have taken place every day so far this week. Six police trucks were seen parked outside the premises.

On Wednesday, the demonstration was staged by dozens of Indonesian Islamic Students (PII). Security was reinforced by the Mobile Brigade unit.

The protesters chanted slogans, carried posters of Osama bin Laden and demanded that the U.S. stop any violence against Muslims.

In the Central Java town of Purwokerto, about 100 college students associated with the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) burned U.S. and Israeli flags.

From their headquarters at Jendral Soedirman University, they took to the street and visited the studios of state radio station RRI Purwokerto to have their demands aired.

"We have to unite to defend Islam. Down with America and Zionist Israel, save Afghanistan," one speaker announced. The protesters dispersed peacefully.

The same demand was voiced by activists from the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) in Bandung who held a protest close to the Asia Africa Building, where Vice President Hamzah Haz was attending a function.

They intended to present their statement to Hamzah but police blocked their way. The students held a free speech session in the street, in which they criticized the U.S. policy on Muslims and Afghanistan.

They proceeded to the provincial legislative council where they presented their petition. They demanded that Indonesia should not support U.S. policy on Afghanistan and called on the Indonesian public to boycott American made products.

On Tuesday, anti-U.S. demonstrations hit Bogor, some 60 kilometers south of Jakarta. Some 300 students of Ibnu Kaldun University took to the street condemning any U.S. plan to attack Afghanistan.

The demonstrations forced the police to tighten security for fear of rioting.

In Bogor and neighboring Sukabumi and Cianjur, where militant groups have threatened to expel American citizens if the U.S. goes ahead with its plan to attack Afghanistan, security has been tightened.

Churches, expatriate residences, hotels and properties owned by Americans have received special attention for possible attacks.

"All security measures have been taken in anticipation of 'sweeps' on Americans as some groups have threatened," said Bogor deputy police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Makmun Saleh.

Tuesday's demonstration turned rowdy when protesters blocked streets and banged on buses carrying foreign tourists.

Firm action against individuals who terrorize Americans and other foreign nationals has been promised by Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb.

"We will arrest them," Sofjan told reporters after a meeting with religious leaders at City Hall.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has made it clear that 'sweeps' on foreign nationals would only harm the country's political, economic and security situation.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bahrul said that Sofjan Yacoeb had personally met with leaders of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to persuade them not to sweep Americans. (jun/45/21)