World

Dueling Protests In Jakarta

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 12, 2001 / 7:58 AM EST / CBS

Supporters and opponents of Indonesia's embattled president staged rival protests for a second day Tuesday, and police fired tear gas and beat students who threw rocks and gasoline bombs in the capital.

And in an ominous sign, a top army general was quoted by local media on Tuesday as saying that the military might move in if the police force is overwhelmed by the growing turmoil in the country.

"Our concern is the nation's interest," army chief of staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto was quoted as saying. "The armed forces must save this nation."

Clashes erupted outside the office of a political party that wants to oust President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is struggling to stay in power in the face of a series of crises and scandals.

Many lawmakers want to impeach Wahid. The political turmoil has sent the stock market into sharp fall and the central bank has been forced to intervene repeatedly to prop up the battered currency.

"Our nation is falling apart economically and security-wise," said Amien Rais, the chairman of Indonesia's top legislative body and one of Wahid's harshest critics.

Wahid canceled all official appointments on Tuesday. Aides said he was resting, but denied that the 61-year-old leader, who is almost blind and has suffered several strokes, had been physically taxed by the ongoing threat to his 17-month-old presidency.

Violence broke out at the Jakarta headquarters of the Golkar Party, the former ruling political organization of ex-dictator Suharto, who was ousted by student protests and riots in 1998. Golkar is one of several groups campaigning for Wahid's removal.

Some police officers charged the crowd on motorcycles and ran over protesters who lit bonfires, and at least five badly beaten protesters were arrested in the melee. Police officers assaulted and threatened reporters and media crews covering the clash.

Earlier, about 1,500 demonstrators gathered outside the presidential palace carrying banners pledging their allegiance to Wahid. On Monday, about 12,000 protesters rallied at the same spot and demanded that he resign.

Pressure against Wahid has risen since he chose to remain on an overseas trip amid bloodshed late last month on the island of Borneo, where more than 450 migrant settlers were slaughtered by indigenous Dayak tribesmen.

Wahid came to power in October 1999 as Indonesia's first freely elected leader in 44 years, but high hopes that he would deliver democratic and economic reforms for the troubled nation have fizzled.

Last month, parliament took the first step a possible impeachment, censuring Wahid for alleged involvement in two multimillion-dollar corruption scandals. The president has denied any wrongdoing.

Visiting Washington Tuesday, Indonesia's foreign minister said his government was stretched but not overwhelmed by the task of transforming the world's fourth most populous nation into a fully-fledged democacy.

Opening a U.S.-Indonesia Society conference dominated by concerns about the crisis of leadership in Jakarta, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab sought to reassure his audience that there was no chance of reversing the course of democracy.

"…Transforming our young, huge country into a stable and strong democracy is indeed a momentous challenge. But there is no turning back: democracy, reforms and human rights are here to stay," Shihab said.

However, U.S. academics, diplomats and Indonesian experts who gathered at the day-long conference were gloomy about the immediate prospects for the country.

But speakers reminded the conference that Jakarta was trying to implement massive reforms like decentralization after years of authoritarian and corrupt rule.

"We get impatient when people heap praise on our former dictators without noting their responsibility for our current problems," said Laksamana Sukardi, economic consultant and adviser to Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Washington cut off sales and military assistance to Jakarta, including logistic support and training, after Indonesian soldiers and police backed violence during East Timor's 1999 vote for independence.

In Washington, talks with the International Monetary Fund on the latest installment of a $5 billion loan facility are stalled, jeopardizing credit from other donors.