Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya – Despite calls for restraint, protests intensified in the country's main cities Monday over the publication in European media of caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
Protesters in most of the cities decried what they considered the use of freedom of the press to justify insulting Islam.
About 200 protesters from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in West Java town of Bandung threatened to conduct searches for Danish nationals in the country if Denmark – where the series of 12 cartoons was first published last September – did not try those responsible.
Protest coordinator Asep Syarifuddin warned that the group would transport Danes to the airport to be repatriated. "We find the Danish government hasn't really apologized due to its support of the right of freedom of speech... it doesn't care that they offended millions of Muslims in the world," Asep, who did not name a date for the searches to begin, said in his speech outside the Gedung Sate building, which houses the West Java governor's and legislature offices.
In the East Java capital Surabaya, about 1,000 protesters from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the FPI held a noisy demonstration outside the Danish honorary consul's office Monday. They pelted the building with rotten eggs and set the Danish flag on fire.
As they held banners proclaiming "Boycott Danish products" and "Free is free but respect us, please", the protesters were blocked by a barricade of hundreds of police officers.
Four PKS representatives eventually met the secretary of the Danish honorary consul, Linda Irawati, and several staff, to deliver their demand that Copenhagen should be responsible for the publication. They said freedom of the press was not tantamount to freedom to blaspheme.
About 100 protesters from various groups, including FPI and the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), protested at the main post office building in Yogyakarta.
The chairman of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council, Irfan S. Awwas, said the publication was an insult to Islamic beliefs and equated Islam with terrorism.
Protesters also called on media which have published the cartoons to apologize to Muslims and pledge not to repeat the act.
"Making the Prophet the enemy is the same as making an enemy of Muslims. If their (Muslim) demands are ignored, it will trigger widespread anger from Muslims from various countries," Irfan told Antara news service.
The chairman of the country's second largest Muslim group Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsudin, said those responsible in Europe for publishing the cartoons deserved harsh treatment.
"Such an act really insults the feeling of Muslims and undermines the value of respecting other religions," he said after speaking at Sultan Agung Islamic University in Semarang Monday.
"If they're making excuses, saying it comes under freedom of the press, then in reality, they are actually violating the freedom itself. In this case, the freedom is to perform one's religion and respect other religions. So it's natural if Muslims are upset." He also urged Muslims to be circumspect in their response. "Muslims should develop and prioritize dialog to respond to every matter." Amid the mounting protests, the government assured Danish Ambassador Niels Erik Andersen of his personal safety and of his staff. Andersen, who met with members of FPI after they protested at the embassy last Friday, visited the foreign ministry Monday morning after receiving information of more demonstrations.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said the government could not suppress the freedom of expression of the demonstrators.
"The ambassador expressed his concern over the safety of himself and his staff, but we told him that as a host, we are obliged to protect our foreign diplomats. I hope the assurance put the ambassador at ease," Hassan said in Jakarta.