Antiwar protests take a turn for the worse
Damar Harsanto and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta Police arrested 10 members of the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) for allegedly targeting foreigners after an antiwar rally on Monday.
"We caught them red-handed while knocking on the window of a taxi carrying three foreign passengers," Central Jakarta Police deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ricky Wakano told The Jakarta Post.
Police identified the youths as Edi Rusli, Sofyan Sunaryo, Irsan Fadila, Faisal, Zulfajri, Rasyid Ridwan Zunun, Dede Nurhimawan, Ahmad Saad, Nurul Ihsan and Bagus Tito Bastian. They are all in their 20s.
The incident is believed to be the first real move against foreigners since protests against the U.S.-led attack on Iraq flared last week.
The government and religious leaders have warned people against threatening foreigners and their interests.
Plainclothes policemen had tailed the GPI activists after they left an anti-war rally outside the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta.
A police source said the youths had intended to intimidate foreigners on Jl. Jaksa, a popular area for backpackers less than one kilometer from the embassy but then decided to target the Sizzler American restaurant franchise on Jl. Sabang. They found no foreigners.
However, at the corner of Jl. Sabang and Jl. Agus Salim they stopped a taxi carrying three foreigners, knocked on its windows and attempted to force the passengers to open the door.
The police arrested the youths immediately.
"We are questioning them and they are likely to face detention for their action. They are charged under article 335 of the Criminal Code on offensive action," Ricky said.
The articles carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
Separately, National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis said it was possible the youths could be charged under article 333 of the code on restraining other people's freedom, which carries a maximum eight-year sentence.
"Not only those who commit the offense, but those who have suggested the offense be carried out could be charged too," Zainuri said.
Meanwhile, members of the National Moral Movement met for the first time on Monday to respond to the Iraq war, which has sparked widespread protests.
Speaking on behalf of the movement, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi said moves to scare foreigners, boycott U.S. products or sever ties with the country would only aggravate the situation in Indonesia.
"Too much is at stakes if there are raids on Americans or boycotts of their products. It will be a setback," Hasyim said.
The movement was founded by religious leaders, including Hasyim, Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Indonesian Conference of Bishops chairman Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja and Indonesian Communion of Churches deputy chairman Rev. Yewangoe.
Syafii echoed Hasyim's view, saying it would be irrational to break ties with the U.S. and its allies or boycott their products.
"We have to remember that even the American citizens are against the war, we should not disturb domestic stability by conducting such radical measures," he said.
With more rallies to come, Zainuri said police vowed to take sterner action against protesters who committed offenses, including those burning other countries' flags or forcing the closure of businesses.
Zainuri, in response to being asked why police had failed to act against protesters who had violated the law, blamed a lack evidence, including witness accounts.
"It is difficult to capture protesters in the act of committing offenses. That's why we find it difficult to take legal measures against them," said Zainuri.
Despite Zainuri's claim, The Post witnessed police officers looking on as several protesters from United Islamic Youth (Persis) in Jakarta and the West Java capital of Bandung burned American, British and Israeli flags outside the U.S. Embassy on Monday.
Last Saturday, police also ignored members of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) who broke laws by brandishing weapons during their anti-U.S. rally.