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

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)