Regards, Ivan
Posted on 03/29/2006 1:50:22 AM PST by MadIvan
Islamic protesters angry at Britain's role in the occupation of Iraq demonstrated in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The visit is aimed at strengthening ties with the mostly moderate Muslim-majority nation.
About 80 demonstrators shouted "Go to hell Blair!" outside the heavily fortified British Embassy and accused Blair of "wanting to deepen Western imperialism against Muslims" by coming to Indonesia.
Blair's trip is the first by a British prime minister to Indonesia in more than two decades, showing the country's renewed importance for Western nations seeking to build alliances with moderate Muslims.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and prominent Muslim leaders were to meet with Blair on Thursday "to give the British leader a deeper understanding of Islam in Indonesia and to find a solution on how to manage relations between Islam and the West," presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said.
Blair is also scheduled to visit an Islamic boarding school and meet officials helping Aceh province rebuild from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Indonesia has a long tradition of moderation and secular rule, but is fighting al-Qaida-linked militants blamed for a series of bombings in recent years, including two attacks on the resort island of Bali.
Wednesday's demonstration was called by a hard-line group that campaigns for an Islamic state in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Most of the sprawling country's 220 million people are desperately poor, and the government is eager to attract foreign investment. But its leaders have to be careful not to alienate domestic Muslim opinion by being seen as too close to European nations and the US.
Margaret Thatcher, the last British prime minister to tour the country, visited in April 1985, when dictator Suharto was still in power.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
But Indonesia has 5 times the population of the United Kingdom! How can you kill them all! /leftie-sacrasm
Seriously speaking, Indonesia is a mess. Someone should tell these Muslim Indonesians that what the Iraqis fared under Saddam Hussein was far worse than what they themselves endured under Suharto for 30 odd years. At least Suharto pruported to develop Indonesia's economy, but Saddam just plundered the country.
And why did you march on the streets in Jakarta in May 1998 demanding democracy for yourselves while denying the same to the Iraqi brothers?
Ping!
This is an apt description of the situation in Indonesia. The good news is that few protested the Blair visit. If the forces of moderation succeed it will save a lot of blood in this part of the world.
Forget "shut up", just die! They want us dead, and I want them dead! There is NO reasoning with the sons of Satan! The ONLY thing they understand is violence and death, and I'm all for giving them a violent death!
Americans usually have a far more negative view towwards Indonesian Muslims. Mention the country on this site and most would only talk bout the incidents of Christians being persecuted and murdered for their faith, or Islamic terrorism from JI. I think it is primarily because heartland America is as far as you go from Indonesia, and most Americans' contacts with Indonesia is missionary work.
I think Australia living next to Indoensia forces you to have a comprehensive look at the goings of the country. I don't like the Christian persecution incidents either, but I'm also realistic enough to realize it could be much worse.
Is there anything the Muzzies WONT protest?
What's to fear? What's not to like?
Thanks for your one voice of reason.
80 out of about 180 million Muslims isn't exactly a stampede.
Indonesia is the world's largest democracy with Islam as primary religion (88%) and one of the world's largest democracies at over 200 million people. Sure, it's not perfect and it takes more than 4 or 8 or 10 or 20 years to build up the institutions that will allow democracy and freedom to flourish, but it's getting there.
I have read detailed accounts of how Bin Laden started infiltrating remote Indonesian tribes back in the 80's (and they can be VERY remote), choosing those where there was poverty and/or clashes with the government; then funding infiltrators to slowly integrate themselves into the community (lots of times marrying the daughter of the village chief, head of local government, etc). No wonder we haven't won the war on terrorism in just one U.S. Presidential term of office.
I don't agree with a school on FR that can only think "blow all Muslims off the face of the planet" and that take the actions of a very few to translate into the voice and actions of the Muslim religion. I have to admit that I was part of that school once before until I read Natan Sharansky's "The Case for Democracy".
Yudhoyono, Indonesia's president, is good for Indonesia now. Just like pretty much the rest of SouthEast Asia, the country needs a leader that is midpoint of being a total wuss and a total strongman dictator.
Go to love those moderate Muslims. I would love to see what the more radical Muslims would do...
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About 80 demonstrators shouted "Go to hell Blair!" outside the heavily fortified British Embassy and accused Blair of "wanting to deepen Western imperialism against Muslims" by coming to Indonesia….President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and prominent Muslim leaders were to meet with Blair on Thursday "to give the British leader a deeper understanding of Islam in Indonesia and to find a solution on how to manage relations between Islam and the West,"
Sounds like they found a solution, infidel, stay out.
An activist shouts slogans during a demonstration outside the British embassy in Jakarta. Tony Blair was due in Indonesia for the first visit by a British prime minister in more than 20 years, highlighting the moderate Islam nation's growing importance to the West.(AFP/Jewel Samad)
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