Foreign missions vandalized
Foreign missions vandalized
SURABAYA (JP): Protesters vandalized the U.S. consulate office
and the Western Australia trade representative office here on
Monday, venting their anger at what they perceive to be foreign
meddling in Indonesia's domestic affairs.
Several groups of protesters also marched to the Australian
Embassy in Jakarta on Monday in the latest backlash against
foreign missions after Indonesia suffered the international
indignation of having to accept an international peacekeeping
force in East Timor.
Some 1,000 people brought down the fence of the U.S. consulate
office on Jl. Dr. Soetomo, lowered the Old Glory flag from the
mast and then burned it.
They also burned the United Nations flag.
The demonstrations caused massive traffic congestion on Jl.
Raya Darmo.
The protesters, calling themselves the Youth Front Against
Foreign Interference, forced their way through the cordon of
outnumbered security forces.
The group's leader, identified as Hasan Basri Usman, addressed
the protesters standing on a becak, yelling anti-American slogans
as he urged them to continue marching toward the consulate
offices.
"Crush the American colonialists," he screamed.
He gave the order to vandalize the fence, but cautioned the
crowd against entering the compound.
The protesters later marched four kilometers to the World
Trade Center building, which houses the Western Australia trade
representative office.
They were met with a cordon of security officers, who allowed
10 protesters to enter the building to make their point.
The protesters, who found the office empty, smashed the glass
doors and vandalized computers, office equipment and files.
Surabaya and Perth, the capital of Western Australia, have a
sister city arrangement.
The protesters later marched to the East Java Legislative
Council building before they dispersed.
Police refused to comment on the incident.
In Jakarta, the Australian Embassy, on Jl. Rasuna Said, was
the target of demonstrations by four separate groups on Monday,
all but one denounced Canberra's policy in East Timor.
The three anti-Australian protesters were the Young Renewal
Generation of Indonesia (AMPI) with 50 people, Kosgoro Students
Movement with 12 people and Kosgoro Management School with 30
people.
They accused Australian Prime Minister John Howard of using
the East Timor crisis for his own political ambitions.
"We reject Australia's involvement. Its government has turned
East Timor into a political commodity," Eko Sulistio Santosa of
the Kosgoro Management School said.
Protesters burned an effigy of a man wearing a T-shirt with "I
am Howard Australia" written on it.
The fourth group of protesters, Human Rights Support for
Indonesia (HRSI), came with 40 people, with the message that all
countries, including Australia, should promote peace.
"The use of force is not a solution," HRSI coordinator
Budijono said.
The group, carrying a large banner with a message of peace,
earlier visited the United Nations building on Jl. Thamrin with
the same message. (nur/03)