Governor vows to protect foreign assets
Governor vows to protect foreign assets
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso pledged on Friday that his administration,
together with the police and military, would protect all non-
nationals, their assets and interests in the city against
possible violence by antiwar demonstrators.
Sutiyoso said around 4,000 security officers from the city
police, city military headquarters and the city public order
agency would be assigned to the job.
"We agreed during the meeting that we will do our utmost to
protect foreigners and their interests," said Sutiyoso after
chairing a meeting attended by police and military leaders here.
Sutiyoso did not elaborate on details.
Friday's meeting was held specially to anticipate the possible
targeting of non-nationals by antiwar protesters who were angry
over the attack by U.S. troops and its allies on Iraq.
The police on Monday arrested 10 members of the Islamic Youth
Movement (GPI), when they were caught red-handed intimidating
three non-national passengers of a passing taxi.
The police have arrested the 10, along with GPI chairman Suaib
Didu, for their intent to commit violence. Suaib, in particular,
threatened to plant a bomb at the U.S. Embassy. Police also
released the names of the detainees: Edi Rusli, Sofyan Sunaryo,
Irsan Fadila, Faisal, Zulfajri, Rasyid Ridwan Zunun, Dede
Nurhimawan, Ahmad Saad, Nurul Ihsan and Bagus Tito Bastian.
Since the U.S. and its allies attacked Iraq, U.S. interests in
the city, such as government buildings, corporations and fast
food franchises like McDonald's, have become targets of the
demonstrations.
On Wednesday, the protesters pelted the windows of the
American Express Bank building on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, South
Jakarta, with paint pellets and eggs.
On the same day, around 300 students from Syarief Hidayatullah
State Islamic University also threw water balloons at the British
Embassy and rotten tomatoes into the American Embassy compound.
Similar activities were also seen in a number of cities
throughout the country, including Surabaya in East Java, Makassar
in South Sulawesi, Bandung in West Java, Semarang in Central Java
and in Yogyakarta.
The demonstrators also called on all Indonesians to boycott
products from the U.S. and other countries involved in attacking
Iraq.
Sutiyoso demanded the antiwar protesters in the city to
express their sympathy for the Iraqi people through appropriate
means, without resorting to violence, and not to threaten
foreigners and their interests.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Patmanagara
also warned the protesters not to hold raids against Americans
and other non-nationals, as such actions were considered
criminal.
"The police will crack down against those who are involved in
carrying out raids against foreigners," Makbul told the press
after meeting with Sutiyoso.