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.