Thousands protest, diplomatic efforts heightened to avert war

Mon, 10 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Domestic opposition against a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq
reached new heights on Sunday when thousands of people rallied in
the capital in one of the biggest anti-war demonstrations in the
country.

Efforts to thwart the planned war also came from the country's
leaders, with a number of envoys sent to various countries to
seek their support against war.

Two separate groups marched onto the streets on Sunday, one
organized by the Islamic-oriented Justice Party (PK) with more
than 10,000 protesters, and the other led by the National
Awakening Party (PKB) with hundreds of people taking part.

Many of the protesters were women wearing traditional Muslim
head scarves and carrying babies. They marched through downtown
Jakarta, waving banners that read, "Stop War, Save Iraq", "No
more blood", and "No Way for State Terrorism".

"War is a crime against humanity and the international
community should not let it happen," Justice Party's president
Hidayat Nurwahid told thousands of protesters in front of the
U.S. Embassy on Jl. Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta.

Police with riot shields were on hand near the U.S. Embassy,
but the crowd was peaceful. The protesters dispersed shortly
after midday.

On the same issue, hundreds of PKB supporters protested at the
Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

The protest caused only a slight hitch in the light Sunday
traffic in the capital.

"There are no reasons that can justify a war," PKB Jakarta
chief Marzuki Usman, a former minister, told the protesters.

PKB claims to be an inclusive political party, but its base
comprise traditional Muslims from Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's
largest Muslim organization.

Many religious leaders, politicians and analysts have warned
that a U.S. attack on Iraq could cause a violent backlash in
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, especially
if Washington acts without a formal U.N. sanction.

The United States, along with Britain, has made repeated
efforts to win Indonesia's backing for a strike on Iraq.

U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce and British Ambassador Richard
Gozney visited Indonesian legislators on Friday to garner
support, but many voiced their opposition.

The government is unsympathetic towards the U.S. policy on
Iraq, as are most legislators and Indonesians.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has made it clear to the U.S.
government that the United States would not get Indonesia's
support in a war with Iraq.

The Indonesian government, nevertheless, promised that it
would ensure the safety of all foreigners and their interests in
the country should there be a backlash from Indonesians in
response to Washington's possible war.

Indonesia saw daily protests across the country in 2001 when
the United States attacked Afghanistan, accused of harboring
Osama bin Laden, main suspect behind the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks in the U.S.

Some radical groups even went to Afghanistan to help Afghans
in their fight against the U.S. attack, while others threatened
to expel Americans and Europeans from Indonesia.

The chairman of the country's second largest Muslim
organization Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, called on all
Indonesians, especially Muslims, not to resort to violent acts in
expressing their opposition against the possible war.

"We should remain calm and persistent in trying to prevent
war. There is no need to harass foreigners here in Indonesia,"
Syafii was quoted by Antara as saying on Sunday in Yogyakarta.

He also warned that Indonesian Muslims should not go to Iraq,
even if a war started, saying that it would only endanger the
lives of the Indonesian people.

"What we need to do, is to increase our diplomatic efforts to
stop the war," he said.

Syafii, Cardinal Julius Darmoatmodjo and noted Muslim scholar
Nurcholish Madjid are slated to travel to the Vatican to meet
Pope John Paul II and ask him to help stop the war.

Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi is tasked
with traveling to Australia to gather support from the anti-war
movement there.

At the same time, the Indonesian government's envoy Ali
Alatas, previously the foreign affairs minister, is slated to
travel to the Middle East, also to raise diplomatic efforts and
prevent a war.