Stop demos, offer food, prayers to Afghans: VP

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz asked Muslim groups to stop anti- U.S. protests because President Megawati Soekarnoputri had already accommodated their aspirations in her Oct. 14, 2001 statement.

"So I ask you to stop the anti-Western demonstrations," Hamzah, who is also chairman of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), said while inaugurating Baitul Rahman Mosque in East Jakarta.

Hamzah was referring to the strong statements made by Megawati while speaking at an Ascension Day ceremony last Sunday.

She said that attacking a sovereign state on the pretext of tracking down terrorists was unacceptable. The statement was widely interpreted as an implicit denouncement of the U.S.-led strike on Afghanistan.

Megawati's statement apparently caused concern in the U.S. and among its allies, however Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda confirmed in Shanghai on Friday that Indonesia stood by its commitment to ally with the majority of the world to combat terrorism.

Hamzah said he would no longer tolerate anti-U.S. protests because the street actions had led to violence and seriously damaged the image of Indonesian Muslims, heretofore well-known for moderation and tolerance.

"We have all heard President Megawati's excellent speech which accommodated our aspirations," he said as quoted by Antara.

He added that Indonesia is becoming a poorer country and anti- Western sentiments would only aggravate the country's sufferings.

"There is no need to demand a cut in diplomatic ties or call for a boycott of American products. See what's happening, all the bule (Westerners) leave when you call for boycotts or threaten them. This will be terrible for the economy."

Hamzah said that because Megawati is President of the Republic, her statements represent Indonesia's official stance.

Before Megawati made the Oct. 14 speech, Hamzah said, the government tolerated anti-U.S. demonstrations but not now.

"If you want to help your Afghan Muslim brothers, you should send them medicines, food and prayers," he said.

Hamzah added that he was worried that if the demonstrations do not stop and violence persisted, the image of Indonesian Muslims will be tarnished and Indonesian Muslims would no longer be a role model for tolerance.

"We (Muslims) should uphold the principle of promoting good deeds and rejecting evil," he added.

Hamzah's call for an end to street demonstrations came less than a week after he, in his other role as PPP chairman, demanded that the U.S. stop the Afghan bombardment.

When addressing the PPP national conference on Oct. 13, Hamzah said he would not forbid anyone from staging an anti-U.S. protest. It was seen as tacit encouragement of a planned massive demonstration, reportedly to involve a million Muslims, to pressure America to stop the attacks. The mass protest did not materialize, however.