 |
|
The U.S. will be forced to swallow its shame just like in Vietnam, protestors said.
|
By
Kazi Mahmood, IOL South East Asia correspondent
KUALA
LUMPUR, October 2 (IslamOnline) - A group of 22 youths from the
Democratic Socialist Coalition staged a sit down protest outside the
U.S. embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 1, for a one-day hunger
strike against possible U.S. military action on Iraq, the Jakarta
Post reported.
The
Post said that reported the strikers sat behind a strip of
concrete erected recently as a security measure to block traffic from
the lanes closest to the embassy.
A
spokesperson for the group said they were starting a 24-hour hunger
strike to protest against possible U.S. military action against Iraq
over Baghdad’s alleged stocking of weapons of mass destruction.
“We
know that you are blind and deaf. You will never listen to our
demands. But some day every working class person in the world will
stand against you. You will be forced to swallow your shame just like
in Vietnam,” a statement issued by the group said.
“America
is the mastermind of every terrorist act,” said a sign carried by
the group, which set up a small tent in the area.
Police
said they planned to remove the protesters at 1100 GMT because
demonstrations after that time are against the law.
Indonesia
has always been the scene of anti-U.S. protests since the September 11
attacks that resulted in the U.S. launching a war against Afghanistan.
A
huge majority of Indonesians are Muslims, and there is growing
anti-U.S. sentiments in the vast archipelago. Last week a huge
anti-U.S. protest gathering 5,000 people was held in Solo, Central
Java.
Meanwhile,
the Philippines National Security Council (NSC) said it will support
the U.S. in a war against Iraq if the U.S. have the backing of the
U.N. Security Council, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez
reportedly said.
The
council, which is headed by President Gloria Arroyo Macapagal and
includes former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos,
congressional leaders and top security officials, also discussed the
evacuation of Filipino workers who might be affected if war breaks out
in Iraq, the Manila Times said.
Golez
said the council endorsed Arroyo’s policy statement last month
expressing continued commitment to the war against terrorism,
“support for the U.S. case against Iraq coupled with our desire to
eliminate weapons of mass destruction.”
It
also endorsed “Manila’s preparedness to extend political, security
and humanitarian assistance to the U.S. in the pursuit of its national
interest which coincide with those of ours to defeat terrorism.”
“In
other words, we are stressing here there must be a congruence of US
interests and our national interests,” Golez said.
Last
month, Arroyo said U.S. warplanes and vessels bound for Iraq may pass
through the country but later backtracked, saying it would only
provide humanitarian assistance.
Golez
said the council considers a unilateral attack by Washington on Iraq
“hypothetical at the moment” and would convene another meeting if
that scenario appears imminent.
“Right
now, we are assuming that any attack will come with the approval of
the U.N. Security Council,” he said.
An
attack on Iraq is also not seen as likely to take place this month or
next, according to soundings by senior U.S. officials, Golez said.
