Students threaten to expel Japanese from Makasar

Students threaten to expel Japanese from Makasar

The Jakarta Post, Makassar

Hundreds of students from the Indonesian Muslim University
(UMI) in Makassar sent an ultimatum on Thursday for the Japanese
government to withdraw its support for the U.S. attacks on
Afghanistan, or else they would expel Japanese from the city.

"Japan has to withdraw its logistical and military support for
the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan immediately, or else we will
occupy its consulate general in Makasar and expel all Japanese
citizens from the province," said Fadli Ibrahim, an executive of
the UMI student council.

The students forced their way up to the consulate's front gate
despite the presence of around 500 police guarding the compound.

The students also demanded to talk with Consul General
Yamashita Katsuo and at around 2:15 local time, five
representatives of the students were allowed to meet him.

M. Natsir, one of the students who met with the consul
general, told journalists after the meeting that the consul
general had promised to bring the students' demands to the
attention of his government and emperor.

The forced meeting followed Tuesday's incident when UMI
students forced consulate officials to haul down the rising sun
flag at the consulate.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government lodged a strong protest
over the destruction of property at its consulate general and the
forced lowering of its flag in Makassar.

Tokyo warned Indonesia that the good relations between the two
countries would be in great danger not only if the government
failed to ensure that such an unfortunate incident did not occur
again, but also to take legal measures against the students who
were guilty of a serious crime.

According to Japanese Embassy sources in Jakarta, Tokyo had
instructed its ambassador to Indonesia, Yukio Takeuchi, to
deliver the protest to Indonesia's highest authorities.

"Our government is shocked by the incident. The Indonesian
security authorities have promised to resolve the problem. We
will wait for the government to deliver on its promises to us," a
Japanese diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The
Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The diplomat said his government would soon take strong
measures to protect its citizens, including possible evacuation
from Indonesia if the situation worsened here.

Japan was taking into account the serious threats aired by
some militant groups to retaliate against citizens of the U.S.
and its allies in Indonesia if their demands, including the
severing of diplomatic ties between Indonesia and the U.S, were
not met.

"According to internationally accepted norms, such threats are
serious crimes, and your government cannot just let them happen
without taking any action," said the diplomat.

Separately, around 500 students from the Makassar Muhammadyah
University (UMM) and Islamic Students Association protesting at
the South Sulawesi provincial legislative council managed to
force the council to issue a statement condemning the U.S.
attacks on Afghanistan.

The statement was signed by South Sulawesi legislative council
speaker Amin Syam.

The council also urged the central government to take a firm
stance regarding the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan and to urge the
United Nations to demand accountability from the United States
and its allies for their attacks on Afghanistan.