Militant activists stage largest anti-U.S. demo

JAKARTA (JP): Militant Muslim activists staged the biggest anti-US rally here to date since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States as the government promised to get tough on unruly protests on Friday.

Smaller scale demonstrations also took place in Yogyakarta, Central Java and West Java -- all condemning the U.S. plan to attack Afghanistan.

In Jakarta, about 3,000 Muslims from various universities and organizations including the Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement and Inter-University Muslim Association (Hammas), gathered at Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in the heart of the city.

The demonstrators initially gathered outside the U.S. Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, where they burned an American flag and an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush.

More than 100 riot police tightly guarded the premises. Tension developed when the police blocked attempts of protesters to approach the compound.

In anticipation of violence, the police also readied water cannons.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that security forces would take firm action against violent protests.

The noisy demonstrators chanted anti-America slogans, criticizing Washington's policy on the Middle East before moving to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Protesters, calling themselves the United Movement of Indonesian Islamic Students, carried banners which read "The real terrorists are the U.S. and Israel". Another depicting President George W. Bush was captioned "Wanted: George W. Bush Commander of Crusade for crimes against God and humanity. Reward: heaven."

Some 200 of the protesters broke off from the main group and staged a demonstration at the nearby British Embassy on Jl. Sutan Sjahrir.

They banged on the embassy's gate before about 50 police personnel on duty managed to disperse the protesters who chanted abusive slogans against the British government, America's closest ally.

An Anti-U.S. protest in the Central Java town of Purwokerto was held by 150 activists of Islamic Students Solidarity for a Muslim World, a loose grouping of various Islamic student' movements.

They marched from their campuses to the local legislative council and state-run radio RRI Purwokerto, demanding that Indonesia stop cooperation with the U.S. and concentrate on more pressing domestic problems.

In Bandung, Muslim youths of Hammas vented their anger on State Minister for Tourism and Culture I Gede Ardika. They were angered at Ardika's statement that anti-U.S. demonstrations and sweeps on U.S. citizens had a negative impact on tourism in Indonesia.

They marched to the local tourism office and the Islamic Propagation Center where they distributed pamphlets criticizing U.S. policy on the Middle East. They dispersed peacefully.

Tension in Bandung has compelled Holiday Inn Hotel in Bandung to hold an emergency drill. (09/45/25)