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Chinese And Expats Race Out Of Jakarta Amid Expected Demonstration
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - Jakarta city residents are preparing themselves for Monday's expected protest rally, the largest since Abdurrahman Wahid assumed the Indonesian presidency.
The situation has become more volatile with the influx of thousands of Nladhatul Ulama (NU) members - 30 million strong pro-Wahid Muslim organization - who said they would clash with anti-Wahid supporters.
Wahid himself made attempts to tone down the impact of the rally Monday saying in a statement released to the press that he foresees no riots and violence from NU members.
The Indonesian president, however, gave his total support for the influx of NU supporters in a bid to show popular support for his administration and his continued maintenance of the country.
In the meantime, Jakarta city residents, used to large rallies accompanied with death and violent clashes with police during the Suharto's reign, are wondering if the mass demonstration will really take place.
Predictions are that no less than 10,000 people could march on Parliament demonstrating their support for Wahid, embattled and challenged by legislators there on his poor presidential performance.
Projections such as these have forced ethnic Chinese, the victims of violence nearly three years ago, to flee Jakarta. Expatriates have also left the city, and hotels have registered serious drop in occupancy, IslamOnline was told.
Flights to Singapore and other parts of Indonesian are fully booked, as well as hotels in Batam and Singapore.
Three years ago, ethnic Chinese were the target of extreme violence in Indonesia, stating their properties and families were attacked, and some brutally murdered, by unruly mobs.
Then Indonesian President B.J. Habibie, taking over from Suharto, ordered an inquiry into the allegations. The United Nations also carried out a separate inquiry. Both investigations concluded that there was little evidence of widespread rape and murder of ethnic Chinese in the city.
Anti-Wahid supporters, following a spate of alleged wrongdoings and indecision by the President, decided Monday's rally should go ahead.
Their concerns center around domestic issues, such as the Bulog and Brunei donations scandals, the nomination of the Supreme Court chief justice and the resignation of Ryaas Rasyid as Minister of Regional Autonomy.
Rasyid's resignation is yet to be resolved with both Wahid and Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputeri throwing the ball at each other.
But, as a result of the affair, both Wahid and Megawati have agreed to call upon the House of Representatives to find alternative candidates for the chief justice post.
Parliament, however, has said it would not accept any nominations other than those already approved.
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