Transcript

JOHN HIGHFIELD: And for the second day in a row, protesters in Indonesia have been targeting the United States and Australia. In fact the US State Department announced a short time ago that it's allowing non-essential diplomats to leave Jakarta and for the third day in a row it's issuing a travel warning to all US citizens not to go to Indonesia, not even Bali.

In Australia's case, young Indonesian Muslims have condemned the burning of the Brisbane Mosque last weekend and are demanding that Australian authorities do a lot more to stop insults and assaults on Muslim Australians. As Ginny Stein tells us from Jakarta, while the Indonesian authorities say the protests are confined at the moment to only a few ultra religious groups, there are growing fears that raw emotion may overtake commonsense if the American coalition proceeds with military action against Afghanistan.

GINNY STEIN: It's the likes of this man that have made foreigners in Jakarta and indeed many Indonesians very nervous.

HABIB RISIG: We demand that the United States Government stop its planned attack against Afghanistan. If they persist they will be starting a crusade and we will be ready to respond with a holy war.

GINNY STEIN: Habib Risig is the chief of the Islamic Defenders Front. A Muslim hardliner, his group is viewed by some as being little more than a group of thugs prepared to support criminal interests but by others as the guardians of Muslim morality.

His Jakarta-based group supports threats by hardliners to expel all Americans if military strikes against Afghanistan proceed.

HABIB RISIG: This is an early warning for them if they still care about their safety in this country.

GINNY STEIN: Former President, Abdurrahman Wahid, does not believe such groups as the Islamic Defenders Front pose any real threat. But speaking to the ABC from his new office inside the headquarters of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organisation, Wahid says he can understand why America is the target of Muslim anger.

ABDURRAHMAN WAHID: They're angry at the double standards used by the United States. And now since the planned attack against Afghanistan will create so much victims among innocent people in Afghanistan, that's why they are angry. We have to know the principle of one thing and that it's against the national, international terrorism. Yes, we have all that. But also that you know this attack will create so much victims who are innocent. Then it's the differences.

GINNY STEIN: On the streets of the capital, anti-American protests are growing in size and number. These students, many armed with posters displaying the face of Osama bin Laden, gathered before attempting to march on the US Embassy. While the United States was clearly the target of much anger, student organisers wanted it known that this was a peaceful protest.

ISLAMIC PROTESTER: Islam is anti-violence. Islam is a peaceful religion. Islam is egalitarian, and we don't need America. We've got proof, we've got proven [indistinct] to make against to Afghanistan.

GINNY STEIN: In this fractious state, there are others who desire more direct action. At last count more than 250 students had signed up to travel to Afghanistan to fight the holy fight. Are you ready to join up willingly, this man is asked. From the bottom of my heart, he says.

How Indonesians react will depend greatly on what action America and its allies take. It's a waiting game with unknown consequences.

JOHN HIGHFIELD: Ginny Stein in Jakarta.