Protesters take to streets in anti-U.S. demos
Protesters take to streets in anti-U.S. demos
JAKARTA (JP): Hardline Muslim groups stepped up their anti-
American campaign on Saturday, with several hundred Muslim
students rallying in Surabaya, East Java, and Palu, Central
Sulawesi, protesting U.S. plans to wage war against Afghanistan.
At least 200 members of the Surabaya branch of the Indonesian
Muslim Students Association (KAMMI) swarmed the U.S. Consulate
here on Saturday to present a "Terrorist Award".
Meanwhile in Palu, dozens of student protesters toured Palu's
main streets, burning American flags and chanting anti-American
slogans.
The protests proceeded peacefully in both cities, Antara
reported.
In Surabaya, the demonstrators failed to meet any U.S.
representatives as the office was closed on Saturday. They
presented the award instead to consulate security chief Thomas
Soenardi.
The "Terrorist Award" was meant to be the students' token to
the U.S. government, which they considered to be terrorist due
its plan to attack Afghanistan.
The demonstrators, who were students of the Surabaya Institute
of Technology, Airlangga University, Surabaya State University
and the National Development University, said that Afghanistan
might be innocent.
The U.S. plan followed the country's pressure on the Taliban
in Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden, whom America
believes to the architect of recent terrorist attacks that killed
thousands.
The students' action was peaceful, as policemen guarding the
demonstration took no action against those crossing the police
line adjacent to the consulate.
Holding banners reading, among other things, America Is the
Great Terrorist and Bush, Big Boss of Terrorists, the students
read their official statements, deploring all forms of terrorism,
and demanding that America protect the rights of Muslims and not
apply double standards in dealing with the complex conflict in
the Middle East.
Some Muslim groups in the country believe the United States
has been less than evenhanded in its support for Israel in the
past year of violence with the Palestinians.
In Palu, the protest was more rowdy, with students burning
American flags in a number of locations in the downtown area.
The students' action attracted hundreds of onlookers and thus
created traffic jams for several hours.
The protest's coordinator Ajbar Abdul Kadir called on all
Muslims in the country to be prepared to for jihad fisabilillah
(war in the name of God) to help their Muslim brothers in
Afghanistan should the U.S. make good its threat to wage war
against Afghanistan.
"We (Muslims) cannot be silent in responding to (U.S.
President George W.) Bush's threat of war. It is serious," he was
quoted by Antara as saying.
Accusing Americans of arrogance, Abdul Kadir called on Muslims
in Indonesia and other countries to boycott U.S. goods.
"Buying American or Jewish products means giving them money
to make bullets to shoot Muslims," he said.
"Muslims all over the world should be united to face the
U.S.'s arrogance," he added.
Saturday's rallies are considered to be the largest in
Indonesia since the attacks on New York and Washington on
September 11.
Similar student demonstrations had taken place earlier in
Surabaya, Jakarta and Medan.
Despite growing antiAmerican sentiment, the security forces
have downplayed the threats of anti-U.S violence.