The Jakarta Post, 2/10/2003 7:23:21 PM
Militant Muslims protest Japan's support for U.S. attack on Iraq
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Some 500 members of the South Sulawesi
chapter of the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) Muslim organization staged a
demonstration in front of the Japanese consulate here on Monday, denouncing the
United States' plan to attack Iraq.
The demonstrators also lodged a protest with the Japanese government's support for
the U.S. plan.
Antara reported that after being barred for some time from approaching the Japanese
consulate building, the demonstrators lost their patience and tried to force their way to
the building's gate. Police formed a human barricade and repelled the attempt.
Rally coordinator Abdul Hakim said a military attack against a Muslim country would
in effect be seen as an assault on other Muslim countries around the world.
"As such, Hizbut Tahrir calls on all Muslim countries, including Indonesia, to take a
determined stand to denounce military aggression against Iraq by the U.S. and its
allies," he said.
He said the U.S. invasion of Iraq was to control Iraq's oil resources.
Japanese Consul Motokatsu Watanabe, who has just been in the post for a few days,
received some representatives from the demonstrators for talks.
In January, thousands of members of the militant movement held a rally in front of the
U.S. and the British embassies in Jakarta to protest against the proposed joint
assault.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
