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Indonesian military pledges to protect western interests
Jakarta Post Indonesian security authorities vowed to protect foreign interests in the country amid increasing fears of anti-Western violence should the United States and its allies attack Iraq. Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said they were prepared to handle any unrest. That's a nice switch. They stood by browning their thumbs while the goon squads went looking for infidels when we went into Afghanistan... They conceded unrest was likely in the event of an attack. "We have an obligation to protect all things, including foreign interests, if the Iraqi war brings negative impacts and raises a negative response to the situation at home," Endriartono said. Thousands of Muslims have marched near the United States and British embassies in Jakarta over the last few days to protest against the likely attack on the sovereignty of the predominantly Muslim country. Indonesia saw a wave of anti-U.S. demonstrations and many extreme groups sought to expel American citizens from Indonesia following the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan in 2001. That's a good sign. It means they're still taking the Bali bombings seriously. Since it's been three months, I was sure they'd be forgetting by now... Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-28 |
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