We demand that President Megawati withdraw Indonesian cooperation with the US, an aggressorcountry, in the defense and economy sectors and thatIndonesia break off all diplomatic relations withAmerica, KAMMI central executive board chairman BayuAdi Permana said. Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)members also joined in the protest.
Two companies of Jakarta Police forces and tens ofmembers of National Polices Samapta Bhayangkara(Sabhara) emergency unit provided tight securityduring the protest. At one stage the students tried tobatter down the gates to the legislature complex. Inorder to take control of the situation, the securityapparatus fired tear gas at the students. Thestudents sustained this attack and remained in theirposition. They also made speeches urging Muslims allover the world to launch a holy war and to pray forMuslim society, particularly those in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, another student group, the Muslim StudentsNuance (SALAM) from the University of Indonesia (UI)staged a protest in front of the US Embassy in Jakartathis afternoon. The protestors then headed for theState Palace where they continued their protests.
SALAM UI chairman M. Ihsan said that they wouldcontinue with their protests until the governmentcorrects its stance towards the US attacks. If thegovernment refuses to take stern measures over thismatter, then the situation will soon be just the sameas with the Abdurrahman Wahid administration, abetrayal of the Muslim society, Ihsan said.
Earlier this morning, these SALAM UI students alsoheld a protest in front of the United Nations (UN)building on Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta.
Deputy chairman of SALAM UI Muhammad Hasan demandedthat the US obey international conventions concerningthe sovereignty of states. He said that the studentswere disappointed by what they perceived as implicitsupport of America on behalf of the Indonesiangovernment.