RI Muslims slam Israel, U.S. for Yassin's death
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian Muslims reacted angrily to the assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by Israel, with rallies held in several major cities on Java island on Friday in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Most of the rallies turned into verbal attacks on the United States, Israel's long-standing ally.
At least 3,000 people held a demonstration at the Gladag traffic circle in the Central Java town of Surakarta, demanding that the United Nations declare Israel and its allies as terrorist states.
They also urged the government to step up support for the Palestinians through diplomacy, including by seeking a halt to Israel's military actions.
Among the protesters were the students of the Al Mukmin Islamic boarding school, which is run by cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is serving a jail term for immigration offenses. The U.S. has accused Ba'asyir of deep involvement in terrorist activities.
Al Mukmin's director Wahyuddin called for solidarity among Muslims against Israel.
"We must fight Israel as well as all of its allies across the world, such as the United States," he said in a speech.
Separately, Bisma, the spokesman for the protesters, said the rally was part of a series of actions to support Palestine.
He said the protesters had set up the Center for Middle East Studies, which would hold dialogs and campaign against Israel and the U.S., as well as collect donations for the "Islamic struggle".
A similar rally took place in Yogyakarta, with more than 500 students and youths taking part.
The protesters were members of the Indonesian Muslim Students United Action (KAMMI) organization, the Yogyakarta Mosque Youth Forum, the Yogyakarta Islamic Student Network, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Mujahidin Council, an organization led by Ba'asyir.
Unfurling a banner reading, "Sheikh Yassin could be killed but Islam will never been killed", the students staged their protest in front of the Yogyakarta city council.
Apparently swept away by emotion, the protesters demanded the expulsion of Israeli diplomats from Indonesia, despite the fact that the two countries have no diplomatic ties.
In Surabaya, dozens of members of the Association of Muslim Students (HMI) held a rally outside the U.S. Consulate General on Jl. Dr. Soetomo.
They branded both the U.S. and Israel as the "real terrorists". The protesters accused the U.S. of involvement in the murder of Yassin.
"The U.S. is nothing more than a guard for terrorist countries such as Israel," shouted the protesters, who demanded the government get actively involved in what they termed "conflict resolution" in Palestine.
About 50 protesters also staged a rally in the Central Java capital of Semarang to express their anger over the murder of Yassin.
Calling Israel a colonizer, the protesters also criticized the governments of Muslim countries, particularly those in the Middle East, which they said failed to act to protect the Palestinians.
In Jakarta, the government expressed its deep regret over the failure of the UN to condemn the murder of Yassin following a veto from Washington.
"We deeply regret the inability of the Security Council of the United Nations to adopt a resolution on the murder of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin.
"The failure ... shows the Security Council is unable to shoulder the responsibility that it has to maintain international peace and security," said foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa.