Protesters burn effigy of Interfet commander
Protesters burn effigy of Interfet commander
JAKARTA (JP): There were a series of rallies over the weekend
in which people protested a variety of issues.
Most of the groups held their protests at the increasingly
popular traffic circle in front of Hotel Indonesia. The Central
Jakarta hotel is accommodating some of the newly elected
legislators.
On Sunday, the rallies were mostly held by supporters and
opponents of the nomination of B.J. Habibie as the country's next
president.
All of the rallies ended peacefully and caused no traffic
congestion.
On Saturday, some 100 activists, grouped under the
Communication Forum of the Children of Fighters in the East Timor
Seroja Military Operation (FOKPPOST), staged a protest in front
of the Australian Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said in Kuningan, South
Jakarta.
The protesters, who mostly wore Army uniforms, condemned the
Australian troops involved in the United Nations International
Force for East Timor (Interfet), over the latest clash between
suspected pro-Indonesia militias and Interfet troops, which left
two alleged militia members dead.
They burned an effigy of the commander of the multinational
force, Maj. Gen. Peter Cosgrove. They also unfurled banners and
posters, citing among other things, "General Cosgrove, you are a
widowmaker".
A protester, who managed to climb the embassy's high steel
fence after escaping a cordon of about 100 police personnel and
members of the People's Security (Kamra), hung a poster which
read "This building is seized by Indonesians".
The protesters also urged the government to sever diplomatic
relations with Australia, claiming Australian-led Interfet
intimidated Indonesia over the East Timor problem.
The group dispersed after protesting for an hour.
Meanwhile, a group of 50 activists from the Youth Front for
National Mandate Advocacy staged a rally at the Hotel Indonesia
traffic circle, rejecting any kind of mass mobilization to
pressure the upcoming presidential election in the General
Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
"Staging extra legislative activity is against the principles
of democracy. It will also stir unrest among people which will
claim the lives of different groups of supporters of presidential
candidates," a protester said.
Another protester said people should accept whoever was
elected as president of the country as long as the presidential
election was free of money politics.
Members of the 700-strong MPR will assemble on Oct. 20 to
elect a new president and vice president and endorse the State
Policy Guidelines.
The protesters unfurled posters which read: "Reject violence"
and "Beware of coercing forces".
After several minutes of orations, the protesters walked
around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle at 3 p.m., sending out
a message that the political elite should comply with the reform
agenda.
They then met with about 60 supporters of incumbent President
B.J. Habibie, grouped under Habibie's Supporter Front and Ka'bah
Youth Movement, who earlier staged a demonstration at another
point of the traffic circle. No clashes were reported.
Both groups dispersed in the late afternoon. (asa/bsr)