Posted on 02/16/2003 3:46:16 PM PST by Lessismore
JAKARTA - Attack Baghdad and it may be the trigger for mass anti-West demonstrations in the country.
The authorities fear that the demonstrations could grow to threaten the peace and security of the country and the Meagawati rule. Potential foreign investors would be worried too.
Jakarta has already seen several anti-war demonstrations in recent weeks. On Feb 9, the largest yet of such actions saw as many as 10,000 white-clad protesters descending on the capital's main thoroughfare bearing anti-war slogans.
The temperature is likely to rise and hit boiling point if the United States goes ahead with plans to rain bombs on Baghdad, said prominent Muslim leaders.
Cleric Hasyim Muzadi, chief of the country's largest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), told The Straits Times yesterday: 'A war will be bad for everyone. Indonesian Muslims will strongly protest a war in Iraq.'
Mr Hasyim, who said NU has 60 million followers, said he and other Muslim leaders have told the people to 'keep their cool' and stay home. But Indonesians' sense of Muslim solidarity is 'very strong' and would prompt many to protest if the US 'brings terror to the Iraqi people'.
The Iraq war could also pose serious challenges to President Megawati Sukarnoputri's government, which has been accused as being too pro-American and not pro-Muslim enough.
Analysts are warning that demonstrations against US actions in the Persian Gulf could easily be co-opted by Ms Megawati's detractors to gain support ahead of next year's general elections.
Aides said Dr Amien Rais, speaker of top legislative body MPR, has already ordered 100,000 t-shirts bearing his picture above the slogan 'Worthy to be Chosen', and aims to highlight his Islam-friendly track record.
'Dr Amien will show how he can stand up to Western countries and is not afraid to defend Islam. Ms Megawati, meanwhile, will be painted as someone who kowtows to American interests,' one said. Both demonstrations and political instability would have severe effects on Indonesia's economy.
The US government has already warned its citizens in Indonesia, including members of the business community, to prepare for trouble by tightening security and evacuation provisions. They have also been told to stock up on foodstuffs.
The US embassy is also telling those evacuated in the aftermath of the Bali blasts to stay out of Indonesia, in part due to expectations of rising anti-American sentiments.
At this time, many observers doubt anti-war demonstrations would reach riot levels, where mobs burn Western facilities and businesses, or go hunting for foreigners.
But the economy depends a great deal on foreign investments, which demonstrations and the perception this country is unsafe for foreigners have kept down during the post-Suharto years.
Foreign investments plunged last year to US$9.74 billion (S$17 billion), from US$15.06 billion in 2001.
Eventually these nations are going to have to do something about their "moose limb" problem or they'll just have to go under.
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