More students protest at embassy
JAKARTA (JP): The Russian Embassy became the target of Moslem students again yesterday, as they continued protesting Moscow's military actions in Chechnya.
Around 70 members of the Communication Forum for Jakarta Moslem Students (FKMIJ) marched to the embassy carrying banners and posters condemning President Boris Yeltsin and the activities of his troops in the mainly-Moslem region.
As in a previous demonstration by other students on Tuesday, yesterday's protest was staged to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops and the recognition of Chechnya's independence.
"Long live Chechnya! Down with Yeltsin, violator of human rights!" the students shouted. "Indonesia, sever all ties with Russia!"
They also condemned the United Nations and Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for their "inaction" regarding the crisis.
The students demanded that their statement be delivered to the embassy's representative, but nobody from the embassy ventured out of the building.
They then marched to the nearby UN representative building, and sent three students in to meet with resident representative A.O. Frismark, who took their statement.
"We demand that Indonesia and other nations boycott all Russia's interests in their respective countries," said the statement, read by another disgruntled student. "We demand they sever all diplomatic ties with Russia."
"No independent state should have diplomatic ties with nations which are endangering humanity and another state's freedom," they added.
They even called on the Indonesian business community to sever trade relations with Russia.
Frismark told the students he would forward their letter of protest to Boutros- Ghali.
The students told reporters they intended to "closely watch the UN's reaction" and that they would hold even bigger protests in the near future. Students from various cities in West Java, including Bandung, are also planning to join future protests.
Security was tighter than in the Tuesday's protest and dozens of police officers barred the students from approaching the embassy's gate.
First Lt. H. Sianturi. W.P. of Central Jakarta police precinct told The Jakarta Post that some 50 officers were deployed to patrol the protest which started at around 11:00 a.m.
"We already knew that there would be another protest today and some of the officers had been there since six a.m.," he said.
During their short march to the UN building, the students received cheers from passers-by. Students on city buses going down the busy Jl. Thamrin thoroughfare spontaneously yelled and lifted their fists upwards in approval. (swe/mas)