Mass prayer fails to materialize

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.