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Mass Protests Continue in East Java, Indonesia
Massive protests staged by supporters of President Abdurrahman Wahid entered their third day on Wednesday in three cities in East Java, Indonesia, according to reports.
Thousands of protesters tried to storm into Surabaya, capital of East Java, through several entry points but were turned away by security forces.
Until Wednesday noon, the situation in Surabaya remained calm despite mass protests in neighboring towns of Pasuruan, Sidoardjo and Gresik.
One person was injured in Pasuruan, some 80 kilometers southeast of Surabaya, when police fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowds.
Two more churches in the town were vandalized during Tuesday's fray, bringing the total number of churches damaged to five.
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman in Pasuruan Muzammil Syafe'i Wednesday denied allegations that his followers were responsible for the attacks on the churches.
"We have issued order for NU followers not to hit the street... but there were unidentified trucks transporting people. We believe that NU supporters are not involved in the attacks on those churches," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post.com online news service as saying.
Activities of business and schools were temporarily halted in Pasuruan on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian military has deployed three battalions to secure the Paiton steam power plant in Probolinggo district in East Java following reports that Wahid's supporters plan to attack it.
"I have requested the military chief to secure (Paiton) and there will be three battalions from three different divisions," Mines and Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told reporters here Wednesday.
The Paiton power plant serves the islands of Java and Bali, thus it should be secured from any political conflict, the minister added.
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