|
Indonesians Protest U.S. War Threats as Religious Leaders Appeal for Calm
JAKARTA, Sept 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Up to 3,000 people on Friday staged the largest anti-American protest in Indonesia since the United States announced it would launch attacks against war-torn Afghanistan, as religious leaders appealed for calm, news agencies reported.
Protesters, calling themselves the United Action of Indonesian Muslim Students, gathered at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in the heart of the capital. They strung a huge banner from a statue reading "The Real Terrorists are Israel and U.S.A.," Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Some protesters waved Palestinian flags.
One protestor displayed a poster of U.S. President George W. Bush with the message: "Wanted: commander of crusade George W. Bush for crimes against God and humanity. Reward: Heaven".
Bush's call for a "crusade" against evildoers early last week revived for some images of the Christian crusades against Islam, according to a CBS News report. This has angered Muslims worldwide, especially with Italian Prime Minister Silivio Berlusconi's recent remarks against Islam in which he claimed that western civilization was "superior" to Islam.
"Some Islamic leaders say the planned U.S. retaliation over the attacks which may have killed about 7,000 people is nothing more than an undisguised crusade against Muslims," said the CBS.
There have been daily protests outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta against any plans to attack Afghanistan, where Washington's chief suspect in the terror attacks, Osama bin Laden, is believed to be hiding.
In the wake of wide protests in Indonesia against the expected U.S. strikes on war-torn Afghanistan, the U.S. State Department has told all Americans to consider leaving the country and authorized non-essential diplomatic staff to leave. But the embassy refused to say how many diplomats had decided to leave.
The British embassy said it was not planning similar steps but advised the 2,000-3,000 Britons in Indonesia to "remain vigilant."
Some politicians and senior officials have expressed fears that the threats could derail Indonesia's efforts to turn around its massively indebted economy with foreign assistance.
Meanwhile, top religious leaders called for calm Friday as anti-U.S. protests rocked the Indonesian capital.
The leaders, including the head of the largest Muslim movement, Nahdlatul Ulama, warned that "illegal actions" could spark violence between different faiths in Indonesia, AFP reported.
"We request all religious leaders and public figures not to use the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy to create a situation where it appears that there is confrontation between the particular religions," said a statement signed by 24 leaders of all main faiths.
Among them were Hasyim Muzadi, head of the Muslim Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) which has 40 million members; the head of the Indonesian Catholic Church, Cardinal Julius Darmaatmaja; Buddhist leader Bhikhu Sukhemothera; Baha'i leader Rudi Soraya, several Baptist and Protestant leaders, a Hindu leader and other prominent Muslim figures.
"Our plea to other religious leaders is to handle correctly the extremist elements within their own religious movements so that dialogue between different religions and beliefs in this country can still be developed, " the statement said.
"Confrontation, whether based on religion or otherwise, will only give rise to further disturbances and violence," it cautioned.
The statement, released at a press conference, made no mention of any specific group.
The leaders strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and expressed support for the fight against terrorism. But, they urged the U.S. not to attack Afghanistan and not to target bin Laden without clear evidence, AFP added.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country and the state ideology, Pancasila, prescribes religious tolerance.
|
