Wednesday, September 27, 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


News 5 hours ago

Prabowo in 'Final Phase' of Selecting Running Mate

Among the three possible candidates for the presidential race, Anies Baswedan was the first to unveil his running mate.
Lifestyle 6 hours ago

Female Officers Prohibited from Dyeing Hair Under New Police Directive

The directive also specifies that female officers are not allowed to adopt a crew-cut hairstyle like their male counterparts.
Business 8 hours ago

Agung Podomoro Sells Neo Soho Mall for Rp 1.4 Trillion

Agung Podomoro claimed the transaction would have no impact on the company's operations and business continuity.
Business 9 hours ago

CPO Producers Indonesia and Malaysia in Talks with India Amid EU Market Restrictions

Indonesia and Malaysia aimed to convey the message that they have long adhered to global standards for sustainable palm oil.
News 10 hours ago

Co-Defendant in Major Graft Trial Implicates Sports Minister Dito

The defendant, businessman Irwan Hermawan, informed the court that he had transferred Rp 27 billion to Dito through a messenger.
COPYRIGHT © 2023 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED