Monday, December 4, 2023

Protesting Islamists Threaten to Burn Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta

Alin Almanar
September 6, 2017 | 6:17 pm
SHARE
Thousands of Islamists demonstrated outside the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday (06/09) to protest the ongoing violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority in the northwestern Rakhine State. (Antara Photo/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
Thousands of Islamists demonstrated outside the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday (06/09) to protest the ongoing violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority in the northwestern Rakhine State. (Antara Photo/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

Jakarta. Thousands of Islamists demonstrated outside the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday (06/09) to protest the ongoing violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority in the northwestern Rakhine State.

The rally followed several others in Jakarta last weekend, all of which called for an end to the Rohingya crisis, in which hundreds of people have been killed and thousands more forced to seek refuge since fighting erupted last month after insurgents attacked Myanmar police and border posts.

"Stop ethnic cleansing in Burma," read placards raised by Wednesday's protesters, including members of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

The protesters urged the Indonesian government to take a tougher stance on Myanmar by cutting diplomatic ties with the Buddhist-majority country and expelling the Myanmar ambassador.

Advertisement

"We demand this embassy be shut down," protest leader Kapitra Ampera told reporters after seeing Myanmar deputy ambassador Kyaw Soe Thien with three other protesters inside the embassy on Jalan Agus Salim in Central Jakarta.

Anti-riot police formed barricades in front of the embassy, surrounding it with barbed-wire fences and had water cannons at the ready.

"If they don't get out of this place in three days, we'll expel them ourselves. We'll burn this embassy," another protest leader told the crowd as he stood on top of a truck, vowing to stage further rallies.

Myanmar leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has come under mounting political pressure from Muslim-majority countries to end the violence against the Rohingya.

Nearly 125,000 Rohingya have reportedly fled for neighboring Bangladesh since the conflict mounted.

Attacks by Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar's security forces triggered a military counter-offensive that has reportedly killed around 400 people.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

POPULAR READS


Business 3 hours ago

Indonesia to Launch Tourism Fund Next Year

The Indonesia Tourism Fund aims to manage Rp 2 trillion (about $129 million) in the first year, according to Minister Sandiaga Uno.
Business 4 hours ago

Chery Invests $16 Million in Shared EV Assembly Plant in Indonesia

The facility in Pondok Ungu, Bekasi, operates in collaboration with local company Handal Indonesia Motor.
News 6 hours ago

OECD to Decide on Indonesia’s Accession This Month

Indonesia receives overwhelming support for its candidacy at the 38-membered OECD, according to a senior government official.
News 9 hours ago

11 Bodies Recovered after Marapi Eruption, and 12 Climbers Still Missing

About 75 climbers had started their way up the nearly 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) mountain on Saturday and became stranded.
News 9 hours ago

Jokowi Denies Allegations of Asking KPK to Halt Setya Novanto's Graft Case

Jokowi said he had requested the State Secretariat to review his past schedules, confirming that the alleged meeting never took place.

Popular Tag


Opini Title

COPYRIGHT © 2023 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED