Bush's Crusade Puts Indonesia, Pakistan on Ropes Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit News Roundup: Pakistan, Indonesia React to Bush War PAKISTAN'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIP UNDER SIEGE http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1614000/1614596.stm BBC-Tuesday, 23 October, 2001, 12:05 GMT 13:05 UK Clashes erupt at Pakistan protest Several people have been injured in clashes Pakistani police wielding batons have beaten back protesters demonstrating against the US-led strikes in the southern city of Jacobabad. At least a dozen people were injured in the clashes close to the Shahbaz airbase, which several militant Islamic groups claim is being used as a launch pad for the campaign against neighbouring Afghanistan. The protesters had managed to evade the tight security that has been set up in and around the city ahead of a planned rally at the airbase, called by the country's largest Islamic party - Jamaat-e-Islami. Pakistani authorities have blocked off roads into the city, and had arrested hundreds of alleged militants ahead of Tuesday's protest in the hope of staving off a major demonstration. The head of Jamaat-e-Islami had also been prevented from travelling to Jacobabad. Heavily armed officers have been patrolling the streets of the city and more than 100 people were arrested in the morning after they attempted to stage a small protest in the city centre. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has come down hard on those opposed to his co-operation with the US, although he has now made clear he wants the US campaign over before Ramadan begins next month. Islamic leaders around the world have expressed concern that if the US strikes continue into this Muslim holy festival, which starts in mid-November, there could be major unrest. Planned siege The authorities have been keen to prevent a repetition of anti-American demonstrations like one earlier this month in Jacobabad, when one man died after police opened fire on an angry crowd. At least 3,000 security officers have been drafted into the area, and trees and trucks have been used to block roads in order to stop people entering the city. The protesters have threatened to lay siege to the base, which the US and Pakistan insist is being used only for US search-and-rescue missions - not to launch attacks. Police had started to make arrests in the run-up to the rally. Jamaat-e-Islami said that over 1,000 supporters had been taken into custody by Monday night, although the authorities said the figure was considerably lower. Qazi Hussain Ahmed, leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, was handed a travel ban when he arrived at Lahore airport for a flight to Jacobabad on Monday. The party leader said he would challenge the travel ban in court, and issued General Musharraf with a warning. "The days of this government are numbered, and Musharraf will no longer be in power after a few days," Mr Ahmed said. * INDONESIA: MEGAWATTI WALKS THE TIGHTROPE, TRIES TO HOLD IT TOGETHER News from Antara http://www.antara.co.id Politics: ANTI-U.S. RALLIES NOT DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE MEGAWATI, SAYS VETERAN POLITICIAN Antara - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 9:19:38 AM Jakarta - One-time foreign minister Dr. Roeslan Abdul Gani, who was once a close aide to Indonesia`s founding President Soekarno, said the current waves of anti-American demonstrations by a number of Islamic organizations had nothing to do with the alleged efforts to overthrow President Megawati Soekarnoputri. Dr. Roeslan Abdul Gani stated this on the sidelines of a seminar on the 1945 Constitutional Amendment organized by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) here Monday. `I fully understand their aspirations and I don`t agree with those stigmatizing these rallies as an indirect effort to overthrow Megawati from her presidential position`, Dr. Roeslan Abdul Gani said. * VEEP ASSURES PEOPLE: GOV`T HAS ASKED U.S. TO STOP ASSAULT ON AFGHANISTAN Antara - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 6:05:31 PM Medan, N Sumatra - Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz said here Tuesday the government has already asked the United States to stop their military action against Afghanistan. `The president, the foreign affairs minister and I have conveyed the Indonesian government`s statement that the US must stop its assault on Afghanistan before the onset of Ramadhan (the Islamic fasting month),` he said in a meeting with religious and public figures here. Hard-line Islamic groups have launched strong anti-US protests in the country following the US-led attack on Afghanistan. * PDI-P FACTION ASKS HOUSE TO POSTPONE APPROVAL OF STATE POLICE BILL Antara - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 6:03:49 PM Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) faction has asked the House of Representatives (DPR) to postpone giving approval to the bill on the state police and the bill on state defense, which it says are laden with controversies. In a letter to the House leadership, a copy of which was made available to ANTARA on Tuesday, the PDI-P faction urged the postponement of the House plenary meeting -- scheduled for Wednesday -- to pass the bills. According to the faction, many groups in society have expressed objections to the two bills. * INDONESIA STANDS TO LOSE RP 85 TRILLION IF IT SEVERS TIES WITH U.S., RESEARCHER SAYS Antara - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 6:07:02 PM Jakarta - The Center for Economic Research of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) predicts that Indonesia would lose Rp 85 trillion in export receipts if it severs its diplomatic ties with the United States. `On the other hand, the US would only suffer a little because its exports to Indonesia make up only 0.3 percent of the total value of US$ 680.44 billion,` Wijaya Adi of LIPI said in a press conference here Tuesday. Wijaya also estimated that in case of severance of diplomatic ties, some 420,000 workers in labor-intensive projects would have to be laid off. * MEGAWATI`S REFUSAL TO RECEIVE HOWARD GOOD LESSON, SAYS ANALYST Antara - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 9:15:24 AM Jakarta - President Megawati Soekarnoputri`s reluctance to receive Australian Prime Minister John Howard on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Shanghai was a good lesson for Australia, a political analyst said. The observation was made by Dr. Makmur Keliat, an international political analyst at the University of Indonesia, in a conversation with ANTARA here Monday. Dr. Makmur Keliat hoped that President Megawati`s refusal to meet John Howard would teach the Australian leader not to be arrogant and not to continue interfering in Indonesian internal affairs. * Law and Criminal LAWMAKER URGES ATTORNEY GEN TO ASK PRESIDENT`S PERMISSION TO EXAMINE HOUSE SPEAKER Antara - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 6:08:22 PM Jakarta - A leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) has urged the attorney general to seek in writing the president`s permission to examine House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung over his alleged role in the embezzlement of Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). PDI-P treasurer, Noviantika Nasution, pointed out on Tuesday that summoning Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar Party, has become urgent because the House will soon go into recess. While saying that it would be ideal for the case to be dealt with simultaneously by the Attorney General`s Office and by a House special investigation committee, she admitted that it would be more proper for the attorney general to summon Akbar. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-10.23.01-21:30:36-22045