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Since the US-led war broke out in Iraq a few days ago, the mass media of Indonesia, a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, have devoted large pages to the reports of war, the Iraqi people's suffering and also anti-US and anti-war protests at home and abroad.
Some major newspapers also issued editorials condemning the war and criticizing the Bush administration for its leading role to stir up the bloody conflict.
Media Indonesia, a major daily newspaper in this country issued editorial one day following the war broke out on March 20 in Iraq. It pointed out: "The war provides a clear evidence that the United States is a dictator. It does what it wants. Any order from President George W. Bush is like an utterance of God that must come true. It's astonishing that we live in the unfair world, which let a country and a president determine the deaths and lives of other people, other countries."
The daily noted, "Democracy teaches us a very fundamental thing: all human beings are created equally by God. But this very basic lesson is ignored by the United States, a country that claims itself the founding of democracy."
The editorial also said, "Not only democratic principles, the United States and Bush are also disrespectful of the very basic principles of human rights. The United States is committing to a serious abuse of human rights by eliminating the right to live. The right to live of Saddam Hussein and his sons. Even the right to live of all the Iraqis and their country."
Kompas, Indonesia's largest and most influential newspaper issued an editorial two days after the war took place in Iraq, denouncing the war and demanding it to be stopped immediately, because "the price we have to pay for this war is too expensive."
The Kompas issued another editorial on March 25, claiming: "Our hearts will always in tune with those of the Iraqis who have been suffering, and their pain is now worsened by war. They, on the American perception, will be liberated. But the United States can never ensure the world that the way (they choose) is fair and humanely."
Bisnis Indonesia, the most influential economic newspaper made public an editorial on March 26, saying, "The price of global stocks fell yesterday (Tuesday). The exchange rate of the US dollar followed. But oil price increased, so did gold price. All happened because of the worries that war will last longer than expected.
The daily noted that investors across the globe now "hesitate whether the war will end faster. Uncertainty is facing them until the next few months. Recession seems to have appeared before their very eyes."
It pointed out the worries about global recession is reasonable. Even before the war, US economy was weak. Japan has not completely pulled itself out of crisis. Whereas the Japanese economy used to be able to lift the Asian economy. Asia now can only rely on the Chinese economy. How much longer can China shoulder the heavy burden? Even if the war ends sooner, global economy will remain under pressure.
For Indonesia, the newspaper said, the uninterrupted waves of crises have been pummeling the country. When the economy was still crawling after a five-year crisis, bombs rocked Bali last year. Not only foreign tourists, investors are also reluctant to visit Indonesia. ...The bomb shock has yet to disappear, now the US-led attack (on Iraq) also gives a powerful shock to the country's economy. Indonesia will suffer losses if the United States and its allies do not conclude their jobs soon.
The Jakarta Post, this country's only national English-version daily have offered almost all first pages to cover the US-led war and angry reaction to the war in Indonesia and other countries. On March 26, it put up the headline on the first page: "Baghdad battle looms " and "NAM calls on UNSC to convene emergency meeting", showing great concern over the war-stricken country.
The daily also carried editorial on March 24, calling Indonesia and the world countries to get "united for peace".
It said: "This war is rightly seen as an attack against humanity, and therefore against the values of just about all religions that preach peace."
The editorial called people to "join hands in opposing the war in a peaceful manner." It said "let each one of us do our part in this campaign, whether through diplomacy, public opinion or prayer."
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2003)
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