Women protest at U.S. Embassy

JAKARTA (JP): Some 50 women grouped in the Women's Coalition staged a rally in front of the American Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday to demand the U.S. withdraw its support of the Indonesian Military.

During the rally, the protesters read out a statement, warning the U.S. not to interfere in Indonesia's domestic affairs by supporting a planned limited military operation in Aceh.

"Because such support will only have a bad impact on the process of fledging democracy in the country," one of the women shouted.

Some of the women carried tambourines and sang local pop songs, the lyrics of which they changed to relate to their protest. Activist Yenny Rosa Damayanti attended in a wheelchair pushed by a colleague.

Some held posters addressing President George W. Bush, reading "Bush, don't even think of supporting the Indonesian Military". Another poster read "More military operations, more rapes".

The rally became heated when the women, gathered at the embassy's gate, ignored Jakarta Police chief deputy Comr. Iza Fadjri's order to move back 50 meters.

Some policewomen pushed them backward, but the protesters resisted and pushed back even harder. The policewomen then gave up and were replaced by dozens of policeman. Some of the protesting women fell over but none was injured.

The women finally left the site and headed to the Ministry of Defense to continue their protest.(01)