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.