Citizen Online
Monday, November 20, 2006
US President George W. Bush faces a storm of protest when he arrives in Indonesia on a brief visit that has generated intense opposition from Indonesian Muslims angry over the Iraq war.
Bush's presence here, on his way home from a regional summit in Vietnam, is a sign of Washington's regard of Indonesia as a strategic Asian partner in its "war on terror".
But the president's six-hour trip, centred on the resort town of Bogor, has triggered daily protests from hardline Muslim groups angry over the US-led war in Iraq and its presence in Afghanistan.
In Jakarta, heavy security measures including roadblocks, armed vehicles and soldiers were deployed to guard the airbase where Bush is scheduled to land at 4:00 pm (0900 GMT) before flying to Bogor by helicopter.
Security forces have locked down the centre of Bogor ahead of massive rallies to mark Bush's visit, during which he will hold talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the town's summer palace.
Police said they had received unconfirmed reports a suicide bomber could be planning an attack and that teams of police and soldiers had been deployed to search and secure the area around the palace.
Habib Assegaf, who heads the Alliance of United Muslim Mass Organisations which groups scores of Islamic groups, said he expected some 30,000 Muslims to take part in a march and demonstration.
"Already in Bogor are some 15,000... more continue to arrive," Assegaf told the ElShinta radio.
Dadang Ruchnyana from the Prosperous Justice Party, an Islamic organisation taking part in the protests, said some 5,000 people would attend a separate rally at the Bogor main mosque. By noon, more than 2,000 had already arrived.
"We reject the arrival of George Bush, because we deem this guest... has shed Muslim blood," he said.
Indonesia's capital was the scene of angry demonstrations Sunday, with some militants calling for Bush to be killed in revenge for the deaths of Muslims across the globe.
"His blood is Halal (permitted under Islam) to be shed. Not only is it halal, but it is obligatory to kill him," Habib Rizieq, the head of the militant Front for the Defenders of Islam, told cheering crowds.
Yudhoyono has said he could understand people's wish to show their opposition to the visit, but warned against "excessive protests" that could tarnish Indonesia's image.
"If something bad happens, the world will blame us. We certainly do not want to be regarded as a country that cannot respect its guests," he said according to the Jakarta Post daily.
In Bogor, the main avenues surrounding the sprawling palace grounds were all closed to traffic, with barricades manned by armed soldiers and police.
Shops and markets near the palace grounds were shut and several schools gave their pupils the day off. Teams of soldiers in full combat gear were seen inspecting the closed buildings in the isolated downtown area.
Civilians approaching the area on foot were challenged by security forces, and at least one man was reportedly handcuffed after refusing to allow a search of his bag, which was found to contain anti-Bush banners.
Anti-Bush protests were staged in at least eight cities across the Indonesian archipelago Monday.
Radio reports said that at one rally in Surabaya in East Java, students were beaten up by police as they attempted to seal an outlet of a US fast food chain.
Despite the demonstrations and stringent security measures which have provoked controversy, analysts said the US leader's visit was good news for Indonesia.
"Bush's decision to come proves that we are a strategic partner for the United States," said Bantarto Bandoro, political analyst with the Center for Strategic International Studies, a private think tank.
Observers said the visit would allow the two countries to work more closely in areas such as health, education, disaster management and poverty eradication. Investment was also among key topics slated for discussion.