Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, October 18, 2003
Mass rally refuses Bush's plan to visit Indonesia
Supporters of Islamic Defense Front (FPI) on Friday marched to the US embassy in Jakarta to protest US President George Bush's plan to visit Bali on Oct. 22.
Supporters of Islamic Defense Front(FPI) on Friday marched to the US embassy in Jakarta to protest US President George Bush's plan to visit Bali on Oct. 22.
The FPI supporters refused the US president's plan because they Bush was considered to have committed humanitarian crime in several countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We will do everything to refuse Bush," FPI spokesman Habib Muchsin Alatas was quoted by Detikcom online news service as saying.
The FPI supporters also demanded the Indonesian government to end diplomatic relations with the United States.
"Stop the Indonesian participation in the campaign to combat terrorism as it will sacrifice Muslim people who want to uphold Islamic teaching," FPI said.
Muchsin regretted the decision of the heads of two largest Muslim organizations in the country to attend the meeting with Bush, saying it insulted Muslim people.
Four Muslim figures, including Nahdlatul Ulama Chairman Hasyim Muzadi and Muhammadiyah Chairman Syafii Ma'arif, were invited to attend the meeting with the US president.
The visit will be part of President Bush's Asia-Pacific trip, which will also take him to Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia.