A hardline Muslim group staged a rally outside the US embassy in Jakarta yesterday to protest a call by Washington for the release of two Papuan activists.
Some 100 members of Hizbut Tahrir massed outside the embassy with banners reading: “We are against US intervention in Papua.”
The demonstration came after some 40 members of the US Congress sent a letter to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urging an “immediate and unconditional” release of the activists on human rights grounds.
Philep Karma and Yusac Pakage were sentenced to 15 and 10 years respectively in 2005 after being found guilty of treason for raising an outlawed separatist flag.
“The US Congress letter is obvious evidence that the US have given their support to Papua separatist group who want to be independent from Indonesia,” said Ismail Yusanto, a Hizbut Tahrir spokesman.
The group also urged Yudhoyono to reject US intervention and stick to the government’s stance of eradicating separatist movements.
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