BEIJING -- China yesterday called on Jakarta to promptly investigate and prosecute attackers of ethnic Chinese during rioting in May, but mustered police to block potential protests at Indonesia's embassy in Beijing.
"China hopes to see prompt action on Indonesia's earlier pledge to investigate the incident thoroughly and punish the culprits," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The remarks, the latest since China broke its silence on the riots last month, came as the authorities beefed up the police presence at Indonesia's embassy in Beijing following two peaceful protests by students and political activists.
A Hongkong-based human-rights group said earlier that Beijing University students planned to hold a rally on Monday, Indonesia's Independence Day, to protest against the attacks on its ethnic-Chinese minority.
Indonesian human-rights groups estimate 1,200 people were killed and more than 150 women raped, most of them of Chinese descent, in the May 13-15 Jakarta riots.
According to latest reports from Jakarta, the authorities have arrested 16 people for inciting the riots, but are still unable to make any headway in their rape investigation.
The planned protest in Beijing would be the third in a week. On Monday, more than 200 Chinese citizens petitioned the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing over the atrocities.
In Manila, the Roman Catholic Church will join activists in a similar rally on Monday.
The Philippine Coalition Against Atrocities in Indonesia said it had received "strong support" from Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin.
AFP, Reuters