Antiwar protests continue in Indonesia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Protests against the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies continued across the country on Saturday with calls for an immediate end to the war that has claimed hundreds of innocent lives, including women and children.

In Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, about 3,000 people, mostly students from Muhammadiyah, the nation's second- largest Muslim organization, gathered at the Mandala Monument on Jl. Jend. Sudirman.

"The war must be stopped as it has claimed the lives of innocent people, including children and women," they shouted.

The protesters, including elementary school pupils, carried posters with messages saying, among others, "Stop the War," and "Bush is a terrorist," referring to U.S President George W. Bush.

The U.S. is leading a coalition force to overthrow president Saddam Hussein, claiming he produced and retained weapons of mass destruction. Most Indonesians believe the U.S. wants Iraq's vast oil reserves.

The invasion, opposed by most members of the United Nations Security Council, has drawn strong condemnation from around the globe. Antiwar protests occur on a daily basis in front of the embassies of the U.S. and its allies around the world.

In Palembang, South Sumatra, hundreds of students from Raden Fatah Islamic University held an antiwar protest at the fountain circle near Ampera Bridge to urge the South Sumatra administration to collect humanitarian funds for war victims in Iraq. They also collected money from passersby, motorists and bus passengers.

In Pontianak, West Kalimantan, dozens of high school students called for Bush to be tried as a war criminal.

The U.S. and its allies, the protesters said, had offended humanity and ignored human rights.

Meanwhile, thousands of Catholics in Surabaya, East Java held a public prayer at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Church on Jl. Ngagel Madya on Saturday for the civilian victims of the invasion.

In Bandung, West Java, organizers of a demonstration planned for Sunday were hoping about 10,000 people would attend. A number of organizations, students, political parties were said to have confirmed their attendance.

Organizations and political parties planning to join the protest includes the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Association of Islamic Students and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

Last Sunday, several religious groups took part in a massive rally involving hundreds of thousands of protesters in Jakarta.