U.S. concerned about violence in Indonesia

U.S. concerned about violence in Indonesia

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The United States expressed concern Wednesday about violent demonstrations in Indonesia and urged the authorities to let peaceful protests take place.

State Department spokesman James Foley told a media briefing that all sides needed to show restraint.

"Although the police response to many of the student demonstrations in recent months has been restrained, we are concerned by reports of the use of rubber bullets and physical force at some of the demonstrations," he said.

"We have urged the Indonesian government to continue to allow peaceful demonstrations... We urge the security forces, students and the public to show restraint and refrain from violence."

"We understand... the Indonesian government's desire to protect the welfare of its citizens by maintaining law and order," Foley said. "We certainly support the right of peaceful assembly and protest. We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely."

Australia

In Canberra, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer called on Indonesia yesterday to show maximum restraint in quelling protests and to protect the country's ethnic Chinese minority from rioters.

"It is very important that Indonesia, both at the level of the government and, particularly, the armed forces and the police, act with a maximum of restraint," Downer said.

"If they don't act with restraint... it would transmit a very negative message to the international community, as well as to people within Indonesia, and it could only exacerbate the situation in Indonesia," Downer told reporters.

"I think it's important that they act to protect their Chinese minority. Again it's a point we've made to the Indonesian government," Downer said.

"In the end, if ethnically Chinese people in Indonesia feel that they are being in any way discriminated against or they are being singled out by demonstrators ... well that will do the Indonesian economy damage."

Downer said it would be a "gross exaggeration" to describe the situation in Indonesia as "spiraling out of control", but added the combination of high unemployment and soaring prices was a "potent brew".

"There were always going to be demonstrations. There was always going to be some social unrest," Downer said.