Filipinos in RI advised to take precautions
Filipinos in RI advised to take precautions
Agence France-Presse, Manila
Philippines officials on Friday advised Filipinos living in
Indonesia to take precautions amid street protests outside
Manila's diplomatic mission in Jakarta over the jailing of an
Indonesian man in Manila.
There is "possible tension" arising from the conviction of
Agus Dwikarna, foreign department spokesman Victoriano Lecaros
told reporters.
He said the 4,000 Filipinos living in neighboring Indonesia
are being advised to be on their guard amid the street protests,
which began outside the mission on Thursday.
"The key word in a situation like this is caution," Lecaros
said. "They could be subjected to indignities."
The official said about half the Filipinos there live in and
around Jakarta, where most are employed in white-collar jobs.
"Most of the Filipinos in Indonesia are expatriates and are
living in exclusive areas so it is more probable that they have
enough security," he said.
Lecaros said the others "work as entertainers who live in the
hotels where they are working."
Agus Dwikarna, described by Filipino police as a member of the
militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, was sentenced to at least 10
years jail last week after a Philippines court found him guilty
of possessing C-4 plastic explosives.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda has said Indonesia will not
interfere in its neighbor's judicial system.
In Jakarta on Friday, about 100 militant Muslims protested
outside the Philippine embassy to demand Manila free Dwikarna. On
Thursday, a larger group of around 700 people rallied at the
embassy.
The protesters, from the Indonesian Mujahedin Council and the
Front for the Defenders of Islam, charged that the conviction of
Dwikarna was part of a conspiracy to undermine Islam.
"We deem that the conviction ... is part of a global
conspiracy against Islam," the Mujahedin Council said in a
statement.
The council also urged Manila to acquit Dwikarna of all
charges and send him back to Indonesia.
No incidents were reported.