Today, several cities in Indonesia witnessed protests by thousands of people against the U.S.-led war in Iraq. In Makassar, at least fifteen thousand students from Islamic, Catholic, and Protestant universities participated in the demonstrations. The protesters carried placards demanding an end to the war and labeled President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Australian leader John Howard as war criminals. Thousands of people in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, protested against the U.S.-led war in Iraq. About ten thousand demonstrators gathered today in Solo, the capital of Java, where they burned effigies of the Statue of Liberty and chanted slogans condemning President Bush. Some students from a school run by Abu Bakar Bashir were among the demonstrators. Abu Bakar Bashir is an extremist Muslim cleric currently imprisoned on charges of treason and is said to lead the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, responsible for the deadly bombings on October 12 in Bali. In Jakarta, a small group of students joined a protest against the war in front of the U.S. Embassy. In the Philippines, President Gloria Arroyo canceled a celebration planned for her fifty-sixth birthday. The Philippine presidential office stated that the funds for the celebration would be redirected to a special fund for those providing information about the terrorist bombing on Wednesday in Davao City, which killed 16 people, with officials attributing the bombing to Muslim extremists. Megawati Sukarnoputri, the President of Indonesia, described the war as an act of aggression that violates international law. Malaysia and the Philippines also witnessed anti-war protests today. In southern Thailand, about 10,000 people took to the streets to pray for peace, later marching towards the provincial governor's office to gather there.
Thousands Protest Against War in Several Cities in Indonesia - 2003-04-03
Thousands of Indonesians protested against the U.S.-led war in Iraq across several cities, condemning world leaders as war criminals. The protests involved a diverse group of students and highlighted the growing anti-war sentiment in the region. This matters as it reflects the broader discontent with U.S. foreign policy in predominantly Muslim countries.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Thousands of Indonesians protested against the U.S.-led war in Iraq, calling world leaders war criminals and expressing their discontent with foreign intervention. The protests were marked by diverse participation from students and religious groups.
- Protests occurred in multiple cities including Makassar and Solo, with significant student involvement.
- Demonstrators burned effigies and chanted slogans against U.S. President Bush and other Western leaders.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was met with widespread opposition in many Muslim-majority countries, leading to protests and a rise in anti-American sentiment.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%