DATE=10/13/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MIDEAST - SE ASIA REACT L-ONLY
NUMBER=2-267883
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Thousands of people in Indonesia and Malaysia have taken to the streets to protest the killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces. Patricia Nunan reports on the demonstrations from the capital of the world's most populous Muslim nation.
TEXT: /// ACT SONG FADE UNDER ///
Hundreds of demonstrators sing anti-United Nations songs outside its office in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Many carried signs or banners reading "Down with Israel" and "Israel murders Palestinians." A few carried cardboard imitations of AK-47 assault rifles and called for a "jihad" -- or holy war -- against Israelis.
/// ACT -- SOUND OF FIRE ///
The protestors set two Israeli flags on fire before heading to parliament where they met up with almost five-thousand other demonstrators. There they burned more flags -- including that of the United States and slaughtered goats to symbolize their sympathy for the Palestinian people.
The rallies come as Israeli helicopter gun-ships fired on Palestinian targets after Israeli soldiers were killed by angry Palestinian mobs Thursday. In more than two weeks of violence nearly 100 people mostly Palestinians have been killed.
With roughly 90 percent of its 210 million people Muslim, Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country. Smaller demonstrations have been held for days in response to the Middle East crisis -- many of them outside the US embassy, which protesters say provides too much support to Israel.
Indonesia's National Assembly speaker Amien Rais joined the rally at parliament, calling for all Muslims to stand up for the Palestinian cause.
Meanwhile dozens of activists protested outside the US embassy in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The group from the influential Pan Malaysian Islamic Party -- Malaysia's largest opposition group -- accused the US government of hypocrisy -- saying that it supports human rights around the world except for Palestinians.
Neither Malaysia nor Indonesia has diplomatic relations with Israel. A proposal by Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid to open up trade ties with Israel earlier this year was met with widespread demonstrations and since has been rarely discussed. (signed)
NEB/HK/PN/JO/PLM
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