Students protest flag burning

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)