Protesters greet Boyce in Makassar

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

Hundreds of Muslim students protested the presence of U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on Monday, accusing the United States of being behind the arrest on Saturday of Lasykar Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib.

The demonstrators, who came from two Muslim associations in the city, said the ambassador should not be allowed to set foot in Makassar because the U.S. was interfering in Indonesia's internal affairs.

Ja'far was arrested in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday as he was traveling to the town of Malang from the restive province of Ambon. The police had attempted to arrest the Lasykar Jihad chief in Makassar, but were prevented from doing so by the overwhelming presence of his supporters.

"The United States was involved in the arrest of the Lasykar Jihad commander. So, according to Islamic law, he (Boyce) is forbidden to set foot in the city," a demonstrator, Sudirman, said during a free speech forum in front of Governor HZB Palaguna's official residence, where Boyce and the governor were meeting.

The demonstration was peaceful, and dozens of officers were deployed to provide security around the governor's residence.

In a press conference with local journalists, Boyce said the U.S. would use diplomatic channels and bilateral ties in the police and intelligence fields, rather than a military approach, in working with other countries, including Indonesia, to fight terrorism.

"This new approach is now under way and we are beginning with an exchange of information," he said.

Boyce was in Makassar to meet with local officials, tour a number of projects that were partly financed by USAID and to look into the possibilities for U.S. investment in the province.