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Violent Protests Against the U.S. in Indonesia
By Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, Oct 9 (IslamOnline) - Staff and other personnel of the U.S. and British embassies in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, were under severe threat of violence from protesters who nearly turned into a lynch mob Tuesday.
The government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri, split over U.S. attacks on Afghanistan, was forced to send military reinforcements to assist police, who were seemingly incapable of containing the angry protestors.
It was a scene of chaos and confusion, with the U.S. embassy blocked by hundreds of supporters of the Islamic Popular Front (FPI). The rally could have turned demonstrators into a frenzied mob ready to seek out Americans and destroy the embassy compound, if the military had not stepped in, sources said.
The police, before the arrival of a crowd of supporters chanting elegies to Osama bin Laden and praise to Allah, had barricaded streets leading to the U.S. embassy with barbed wire.
A group of no less than one hundred supporters of the FPI approached the barbed wire in an attempt to clear the road leading to the Embassy, but were dispersed when the army shot live bullets in the air.
This did not deter demonstrators who vowed to remain there and block the compound. This is the second day of heightened protests against the U.S., after a week of street demonstrations calling for peace and urging the U.S. not to attack Afghanistan.
The FPI, as well as Muslims in Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation on earth, do not believe the U.S. has any right to attack the Taliban regime, or to go after bin Laden.
Protesters were heard calling for the death of U.S. President George W. Bush, whose country they say was the "mother of all terrorists", adopting the description given on Monday by Parti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS) secretary general Mahfuz Omar.
Chants of "Osama", "Osama" were heard in Bandung, another influential city in Indonesia. The same was heard in several other towns where Muslims rallied to protest against the attacks on Kabul.
Police, however, said there were no shots fired or any form of violence in protests outside Jakarta. They nevertheless say they fear that the worst is still to come, sensing that student movements might join the FPI in anti-U.S. protests.
Observers believe the protests are popular reactions to the misgivings of the Megawati regime on the terrorism issue. Indonesia said it supported the U.S. in its "war against terrorism", and timidly condemned the attacks against Afghanistan.
Several observers in Jakarta said the government should not underestimate Muslims in the country, who want to seriously get rid of U.S. presence and pro-U.S. supporters.
A host of Muslim based organizations, including the Religious Leaders Council (MUI) called on the government to simply sever diplomatic ties with the U.S.
Akbar Tandjung, leader of the Golkar party, one of the biggest political organizations in the country, said the government should sever ties with the U.S.
Thousands of pro-Taliban and pro-bin Laden supporters have registered for a jihad (struggle) against the U.S. and are ready to go to Kabul to defend the impoverished country.
The Muhammadiyah, one of the largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, asked the government to take a clear stance on the U.S.-Afghan conflict. It is understood the movement would want Megawati's regime to side with the Afghans.
"We urge the government to have a clear stance on the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan. We also call on the government to secure the situation at home and anticipate the negative impact of the attacks," the secretary of the Muhammadiyah organization, Goodwill Zubair, said while reading the organization's statement as quoted by Antara.
"Indonesia has only shown a neutral stance by saying that it supports a limited attack on Afghanistan. The government's stance is unclear," said the statement.
The government issued an official statement Monday. It said it was concerned over the attacks and urged Washington to keep its operation limited in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties.
The Muhammadiyah condemned the attack, saying it would increase the Afghan people's suffering.
"The U.S. is fighting terror with more terror," it said.
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