Jakarta – Leaders of major religions came together Sunday in a united stance against Israeli attacks on Lebanon, with thousands bringing traffic to a standstill on main thoroughfares in Jakarta.
The rally and most of the ones held concurrently in Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar and Medan were organized by the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
In Jakarta, an estimated tens of thousands of protesters – much smaller than the "One Million Followers" theme of organizers – marched from Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the US Embassy. They also stopped in front of the UN representative office on Jl. Thamrin, where protest leaders led shouts of criticism at the international body for failing to bring an end to the Israeli bombardment.
Protesters began to mass at the traffic circle at noon, with more people joining the protest as it got underway, their swelling number swarming the street and blocking traffic. Service on the Blok M-Kota route of the TransJakarta Busway was temporarily rerouted.
Supporters of hard-line groups and PKS have predominated in previous rallies against Tel Aviv but Sunday's rally also included Catholics, Christians and Buddhists.
They yelled anti-Israeli and American slogans as they carried banners appealing for peace, with messages including "Give Peace a Chance" and "Save Children, Say No to War".
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker and PKS leader Hidayat Nur Wahid told the crowd in front of the UN building that Israel must halt its aggression. He also demanded that leaders of the Jewish nation should be tried for war crimes in the International Court of Justice.
Hidayat, along with Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chief Din Syamsuddin and popular cleric Abdullah Gymnastiar, signed a petition demanding Washington stop its support for Israel and practicing a double standard in the Middle East conflict.
MUI deputy chairman Amidhan also said the world must make Israel take responsibility for its actions against civilians in Lebanon and Palestine. "Israel should be taken before the International Court of Justice because it has killed many children and women," he said.
US Ambassador B. Lynn Pascoe refused to meet with representatives of the protesters, although Din said the US Embassy had been informed there would be a protest. "We will note this as an uncooperative attitude," he said.