Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri has condemned the United States-led air strikes on Afghanistan as her Government continues to take tough action against radical groups that have threatened to attack Western interests in the country. She said in a nationally televised address that no government had the right to attack another country and that "blood cannot be cleansed with blood".
Police in Jakarta yesterday used tear gas and water cannon and fired blank warning shots to disperse several hundred anti-US demonstrators who tried to force their way through barricades outside parliament. Ten people were arrested. Earlier, 27 protesters allegedly found carrying weapons and bomb-making materials were arrested.
Ms Megawati, bowing to growing pressure from Muslim groups in the world's largest Islamic nation, said that whoever committed terror had to be punished. "However, the search for and the bringing to justice of perpetrators of terror or those parties who harbour them must be in accordance with law that is generally acceptable. "It is unacceptable that someone, a group or even a government, reasoning that they are searching for perpetrators, attack a people or another country for whatever reason. Blood cannot be cleansed with blood."
Until Ms Megawati's comments at a mosque on Sunday the US had seen Indonesia as a critical ally. Immediately after the September 11 attacks she had pledged her country's support for the US war on terrorism. However, when the attacks on Afghanistan began her Government repeatedly urged the action be limited to avoid civilian casualties.
The pressure on Ms Megawati to call for a halt to the attacks on Afghanistan has come from some of Indonesia's most powerful politicians, including Vice-President Hamzah Haz and Akbar Tanjung, leader of Golkar, the second largest party.
Mr Haz, the leader of the country's largest Muslim-based political party, said at the weekend that the US had not proved that Osama bin Laden was involved in the US attacks. Mr Haz's United Development Party has threatened to bring millions of protesters on to Jakarta's streets if the attacks on Afghanistan continue.
Ms Megawati, a secular nationalist who rarely makes public statements on controversial issues, said in her address: "We cannot imagine that other groups or nations can make their own measurements and rules to decide who is right or wrong and then attack other parties."
She made no mention during her address of the threats by radical groups that have been staging small but rowdy protests across the country and threats to drive US and British nationals from the country and to boycott US products. So far there have been no reports of serious assaults, although police have ordered the closure of many restaurants, bars and nightclubs that are frequented by foreigners.
Business leaders say the heightened security fears have dealt a cruel blow when Ms Megawati seemed to be bringing some political and policy certainty to the country facing a myriad of serious problems, including a collapsed economy.