Financed by the iconoclastic emir of Qatar, the Gulf state where

Financed by the iconoclastic emir of Qatar, the Gulf state where U.S. war operations are based, Al Jazeera is the only independent broadcasting voice in the Arab world, watched by 35 million people. That is why the decision by the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq to bar the station's reporters is so repugnant.

It is the only Arabic television station that regularly interviews Israeli officials. It is also an important forum for American officials. Last week alone, it interviewed three senior members of the American government, including Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Al Jazeera has also been a vital source of information about al-Qaeda. Its reporters have had access to Qaeda leaders, and tapes of Osama bin Laden have found their way to the station's offices. This has been a useful window on a world that for too long has been utterly alien to us.

The ban on Al Jazeera by the princes of the free market puts them in impressive company. Libya and Tunisia have both complained that Al Jazeera gives too much air time to opposition leaders. Jordan has thrown it out. Kuwait refused visas to its correspondents who were to be placed with American forces based there.

If a free, uncensored press ever arrives in the Arab world, many Americans will be shocked by what it says. Then, the energetic if somewhat tendentious broadcasts of Al Jazeera will seem, in comparison, like the nuanced objectivity of the BBC. For right now, Al Jazeera deserves all the help and support it can get.

-- The New York Times

Indonesians' discipline

Can Indonesians hold orderly street demonstrations? The answer is yes. That is what happened on Sunday when about one million people marched to protest against U.S. aggression against Iraq. It was labeled as the biggest street demonstration ever in the history of the Republic.

What was amazing was that women felt safe enough to bring their babies and children along to participate.

Demonstrations, part of democracy, is a legal form of expressing opinions. But, in Indonesia, demonstrations have meant chaos, anarchy and vandalism. Demonstrations have also meant death.

Therefore, demonstrations have always been terrible until the Justice Party (PK) showed us how to hold street demonstrations, involving a large number of people, in a proper manner. PK has initiated several street protests and all have been orderly. The point is that Indonesian people can be disciplined and well behaved.

Indonesians living in Singapore also abide by local laws, which prohibit people from littering, smoking and spitting in public places.

But, as soon as they return to Indonesia, they change drastically. Why? The answer is that laws are respected and enforced in Singapore. The other factor is leadership. A community with leaders with vision and discipline will produce people who respect the law.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta

Bush and Blair, Hitler and Genghis

The people of Indonesia have clearly conveyed their message: Stop the war now!

Sunday's massive demonstration in Jakarta involving hundreds of thousands of people from various religions and social backgrounds who spoke out against the violence.

A conscience is beautiful. Unfortunately U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair no longer seem to possess theirs. They are filled with greed and a desire to rule the sovereign country, which has oil deposits that are second only in size to Saudi Arabia.

Both Bush and Blair have thrown their consciences away and replaced them with a desire to kill. The question is what is the difference between Bush and Blair or Hitler and Genghis Khan?

The death of hundreds of innocent civilians in Iraq shows the clear objectives of the U.S.'s ambitions. What the U.S. and its allies are doing now is not releasing Iraqis from the tyrant by unseating Saddam Hussein as they (the U.S. and its allies) claim. They just want to rule Iraq the violent way: Killing.

What logic could explain that what the U.S. is doing in Iraq is acceptable? They have ignored international aspirations and laws. They have destroyed and ruined the world order and civilization.

Bush and Blair have played down antiwar protests, which could someday boomerang on them. Now, Asia and Africa no longer believe that the U.S. is a country which respects democracy and human rights.

The war must stop. The UN, established to manage world peace after World War II, has failed to function properly, but this does not mean that there is no way out.

The world moral power, boosted by France, Russia and China as well as Germany, together with other civilized countries, could take the initiative to stop the war.

-- Republika, Jakarta