Anti-U.S. protests revived in Surakarta

Anti-U.S. protests revived in Surakarta

Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta

Hundreds of Muslims in Surakarta held a mass gathering
on Sunday to renew their protest at the killing of innocent
Muslim people in the continuing military strikes by the United
States and its allies on Afghanistan.

The protesters, who came from around 40 Muslim organizations
in the town, held the gathering a week after their journey to
Jakarta, where they had joined forces with other Muslims to stage
anti-U.S. demonstrations in front of the U.S. Embassy.

They wore traditional Muslim clothing while carrying with them
anti-U.S. banners reading, Bersatulah Umat Muslim melawan kafir
America dan sekutunya, (Muslim people should be united in
fighting against the infidel America and its allies) and Osama
bin Laden mujahidin bukan terrorist (Osama bin Laden is a holy
fighter, not a terrorist).

Hari Mulyadi, coordinator of the gathering, said it had been
held to renew the strong protest of Muslims at the human tragedy
in Afghanistan.

"We want the U.S. and its allies to pull out of Afghanistan to
avoid a tragedy worse than what happened on Sept. 11," he said.

He also denied that the anti-U.S. demonstration was aimed at
toppling President Megawati Soekarnoputri. "The demonstration has
nothing to do with any alleged attempts to topple the President,"
he said.

Zainal Arifin, chairman of the local chapter of the Indonesian
Ulemas Association, guaranteed foreigners' safety in the town.

"No Muslim people will be allowed to seek American and British
nationals in order to expel them. We guarantee the security of
foreigners, including American and British citizens, living in
the town," he said.