The Jakarta Post, 4/20/2003 4:48:35 PM
2,000 demonstrators turn up in Yogyakarta, calling for Jihad
JAKARTA(JP): At least 2,000 people marched throughthe streets of Yogyajarta in
central Java on Sunday, calling for a holy war against the United States in one of the
largest protests here against the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq in recent weeks.
Dressed in traditional Muslim attire, demonstrators carried banners that read "Jihad
(holy war) is the only solution for the world crisis" and "Take your sword, prepare for
Jihad."
Police were on hand to prevent any violence, but no arrests were made and the march
was largely peaceful.
Most of the protesters came from Indonesia's main Muslim groups Muhammadiyah,
Majelis Mujahiddin Indonesia and Nahdlatul Ulama, which organized the march,
Associated Press reported.
Protest leader Ahmad Mursyidi criticized the Indonesian government for not
responding strongly enough over the Iraq and called on President Megawati
Sukarnoputri's government to end diplomatic relations with the United States.
But observers say the government's repeated condemnations of the Iraqi invasion
appear to have helped defuse public discontent.
While many in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation,were against the
war in Iraq, demonstrations here have been mostlypeaceful and considerably smaller
than those held during the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan in 2001.
Mursyidi also called for a boycott of American goods.
"Stop buying McDonald's and KFC, they are American products. If you buy them it
means you support the U.S.," said Mursyidi told the crowd.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
