Students protest flag burning

JAKARTA (JP): A group of students staged a demonstration yesterday outside the Australian embassy, protesting the reported burning of an Indonesian flag during an anti-Indonesia rally in Melbourne recently.

Calling themselves the United Youths for the Salvation of the Red-and-white, the color of the Indonesian flag, ten students unfurled banners and sang patriotic songs while squatting in the shade of the embassy's gates.

Some of the posters read, "Do you think it's funny? Go to hell" and "Evans, we warn you", referring to the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Gareth Evans.

The students, from Jakarta and Depok, also demanded to meet with Australian Ambassador Allan Robert Taylor, but were refused entry. Instead, a staff member of the embassy, Brendan Augustin, met them and took their statement.

"The burning of our flag has hurt us," the statement said. "We are protesting the tragedy. It's unforgivable."

The students demanded that the Australian government formally apologize to Indonesia, and take action against the people who burnt the flag.

They also called on the Indonesian government to "determine its stance and find suitable solutions" over the incident.

Brendan Augustin told the students he would deliver their statement to the ambassador and forward it to the relevant officials.

"As you know, we have been receiving many inputs from many people here," he told Anto, one of the students. "We'll pay close attention to all of them and consider them before making any decision."

Augustin said the embassy will let the public know of its stance over the incident through the media.

The report of the flag burning upset many senior government officials, deep enough to prompt them to demand action and warn of deteriorating relations between the two countries.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman called it "an act of provocation", while Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat insisted Indonesia send a strong protest note to the Australian government.

The Armed Forces denied that the Indonesian national flag was burnt by protesters demonstrating their objection to Jakarta's participation in an ongoing joint military exercise with Australia.

The government, through Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, later conceded that there had indeed been a flag burning, taking place during the demonstration. (swe)