Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Dozens of students in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held a demonstration on Tuesday March 20 condemning the US invasion of Iraq and demanding that US troops leave Iraq immediately.

The action, which was organised by the United People’s Committee, began at the Abu Bakar Ali parking area on the northern side of the Garuda Yogyakarta Hotel. From there they march towards the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on the intersection of Jl. Malioboro and the Yogyakarta central post office.

The protesters brought a banner with the writing “United People’s Committee (KRB)” and a number of posters with demands such as “Stop the US invasion of Iraq”, “Bush is the Number 1 terrorist” and “Bring Bush before the International Human Rights Court”.

“Four years since the invasion by the US military and international troops in Iraq has resulted in the Iraqi people suffering. The US invasion of Iraq is the same thing as the invasion of Afghanistan, that is it is economically motivated”, said action coordinator Adi Amril Darusamin during a speech in front of the main entrance to the DPRD.

The students also criticised the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Jusuf Kalla as being foreign accomplices saying that they prioritise the interests of foreigners, particularly the US. This has caused much of the country’s natural resources to come under foreign control such as PT Freeport, PT Newmont, PT Exxon Mobile Oil and PT Caltex.

“The SBY administration must have the courage to sever relations with the imperialist countries. The natural wealth that they have sucked up must be returned to bring prosperity to the people”, said Darusamin. (bgs/djo)

[Translated by James Balowski.]