Antiwar protesters expand targets to non-U.S. missions

Antiwar protesters expand targets to non-U.S. missions

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Rallies to protest against the attack on Iraq continued on
Thursday across the country, with demonstrators in some cities
expanding their targets to parties not affiliated with the United
States or its allies.

Some 20 protesters of the Islamic Students Alumni Association
(KAHMI) staged a rally in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy on
Jl. M.T. Haryono, East Jakarta to protest the kingdom's
indifference to the U.S.-led incursion of Iraq.

The protesters deplored Saudi Arabia's inaction.

"Saudi Arabia must also be blamed for its failure to prevent
the outbreak of the war which has brought suffering to the Iraqi
people," said a protester.

To express their disappointment, the protesters also urged the
Indonesian government to boycott all products from Saudi Arabia
and to halt economic and political cooperation.

In the Central Java city of Surakarta, at least 3,000
protesters grouped under the Islamic Congregation of Surakarta
(UIS) took to the streets to condemn the attack. They gathered at
the Gladag traffic circle on Jl. Slamet Riyadi in downtown
Surakarta.

The rally was led by cleric Wahyudin, deputy director of Al
Mukmin boarding school whose leader, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is under
detention for treason.

The protesters also pasted stickers to call for a boycott of
all American products at American licensed fast-food outlet
Kentucky Fried Chicken nearby.

Similar antiwar rallies were to follow later in the day in
other venues like the Press Monument and the official residence
of the mayor.

Around 1,000 Muslim activists grouped under Hizbut Tahrir went
to the West Java Legislature in Bandung to express their demand
for an end to the Iraq war and the sending of multinational
peace-keepers to help the Iraq people recover from the impact of
the war.

The protesters, led by former rock singer Harry Mukti, marched
from Al-Ukuwah mosque on Jl. Wastukancana to the legislative
building.

In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, around 400 high
school students of the Indonesian Association of Students of
Makassar (PPIM) marched from Mandala Monument on Jl. Jend.
Sudirman to the Losari beach, where they read out antiwar poems
and recited prayers for the cessation of the war.

In the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, dozens of protesters rallied
in front of the Malaysian Consulate to demand that Indonesia
sever diplomatic ties with the U.S.

One of the people said they targeted the Malaysian Consulate
as they could no longer expect the Indonesian government to
comply with their demand.

Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar reiterated
on Thursday his promise to provide security for U.S. business
interests and its allies.

"The police are doing their job of taking measures to improve
security in the country, including protecting foreign interests
and foreigners," Da'i said after signing a Memorandum of
Understanding in Jakarta on a security operation in support of
the national tourism program.

He dismissed reports that a group of expatriates working in
American oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia in Riau had left
the province due to fear of violent rallies.

"They left for Singapore, Thailand and Bali on vacation. It is
not true that they have left the country because they felt
insecure.

Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yosgiantoro
also gave his assurance for the safety of expatriates working in
Indonesia.

But, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo acknowledged
they would not able to provide protection for all American
companies, especially the numerous fast-food restaurants due to
limited personnel.

Prasetyo also said the protection would be limited to the
restaurants' compounds.

"We can guarantee the security of the restaurants and their
customers while they are inside. But, of course, it's impossible
for us to guarantee their safety outside the premises," said
Prasetyo.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party Almuzammil
Yusuf said one million people from various religions and cultures
are expected to turn up for the biggest antiwar rally in the
country scheduled for Sunday in Jakarta.