Antiwar protests continue in Indonesia

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.