Mass prayer fails to materialize
Ahmad Junaidi and Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Claims that hundreds of thousands of protesters would conduct an anti-U.S. mass prayer in the National Monument (Monas) park, Central Jakarta, proved to be groundless on Friday, with no more than a thousand people gathering in the park near the U.S. Embassy.
There was no mass prayer, but hundreds of police officers deployed to safeguard the embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, held Friday prayers, led by Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacoeb.
Dozens of students grouped under the Indonesian Muslim Student's Action Front (KAMMI), who had rallied in front of the embassy since the morning, left before the prayer began.
Sofjan expressed his gratitude that there was no mass prayer.
"So far, it's safe and under control. There was no mass prayer, as was rumored (to occur)," Sofjan told reporters in front of the embassy.
He said police deployed about 3,500 officers in anticipation of the event on Friday, as well as 2,500 civilian defense (Hansip) officers.
He promised to forcibly disperse demonstrators if they did not leave after dark.
Larger groups of people, totaling around one thousand, started gathering on the road in front of the embassy at about 2 p.m..
Besides KAMMI, they represented various organizations, including the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and the Indonesian Muslim Movement (GPI).
The demonstrators unfurled large banners reading "Indonesia does not need diplomatic relations with aggressors" and "Stop buying weapons from the U.S.".
They also demanded that the government seize and nationalize assets belonging to the U.S. and its allies, such as Vico, BP and McDonalds.
An effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush, with firecrackers attached to it, was burned by the protesters.
A police water canon was used to extinguish the flames and forced the protesters to leave the scene.
Some demonstrators then threw stones at the officers. One rock hit a reporter, who suffered minor head injuries.
Group leaders managed to pacify their members and control the rally, which began to calm when the protesters conducted an Asyar (afternoon prayer) on the road in front of the embassy.
At about 5 p.m., they started to leave the area, however some headed toward the Merdeka Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara, in an attempt to communicate their demands.
Presidential guards were shocked to see the demonstrators approaching the palace gates and police officers, also caught by surprise, hurried to the scene.
As protesters jostled with security forces to get closer to the palace, police officers then fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, Sofjan Yacoeb stated that police were continuing their investigation of six protesters arrested on Wednesday for tearing up an American flag, possessing machetes and pickpocketing during the demonstrations.
"The investigation regarding the six protesters is underway at the moment. Today, I asked that they be taken to court soon, because this is just a simple case. They will be charged with violating an article in Law No. 9/1998," Sofjan told The Jakarta Post in front of the U.S. Embassy.