Purnomo urges protesters not to resort to violence
Monday, March 24 2003 - 03:17 AM WIB
Minister of energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro urged protesters that wished to express their concern over allied force attack on Iraq not to resort to violence and occupying oil, gas and mining facilities.
?I urge them not to occupy offices and production facilities, because by doing so they will hurt state income, which we desperately need now. Indonesia will be the one that hurt most,? said Purnomo.
Anti US sentiment had been increasing in Indonesia, whose Moslem population are majority.
US and British oil, gas and mining companies are on heightened security mode over possibility violent protests. Rallies had been held in Unocal Indonesia and Vioco Indonesia?s offices in East Kalimantan, but thus far everything had been under control. (godang)