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Thousands rally in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Jakarta on Friday in the largest anti-U.S. protest in Indonesia since strikes begin in Afghanistan.

Carrying banners calling Israel and America terrorists, as many as 8,000 protesters marched past the U.S. Embassy, through Jakarta's business district before stopping at the city's central roundabout near the British Embassy.

The demonstration was largely peaceful and organized by Islamic group, the Justice Party. The Justice Party is made up of many middle-class Indonesian families, including a large number of women.

Past demonstrations have also been led by a small but vocal radical Muslim group called Islamic Defenders Front, primarily made up of students.

That group wants President Megawati Sukarnoputri to break off diplomatic ties with Washington and kick out people from other countries. If she doesn't, the group has threatened to attack Americans and other "outsiders."

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But it has only been able to draw several hundred people to its rallies during almost daily demonstrations in the capital since the airstrikes began.

Friday's protest was of much larger scale. Demonstrators waved Afghan or Palestinian flags while "We are angry, our blood is boiling. Until the end of time, we will defend all Muslims," echoed from loudspeakers.

The protesters expressed anger against the ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, claiming Israel and the U.S. were carrying out terrorist actions and killing innocent civilians.

Security presence was low, although hundreds of police and troops guarded the British and U.S. Embassies.

Caught in the middle

But lately, there is an obvious attempt by Indonesia's political leaders to heed the growing disenchantment of their constituents while trying to bow to political pressure pressed upon by the United States.

In a veiled reference to the United States, Indonesian President Megawati said on Monday that no country has the right to attack another, even in pursuit of terrorists.

It is the first time the President made such a bold pronouncement, despite her pledge of support to the United States.

In the past, Megawati had only asked the United States to limit attacks in Afghanistan, but had not suggested it did not have the right to attack.

And in a surprising twist, her deputy Vice President Hamzah Haz, head of the country's largest Muslim party, has suddenly softened his anti-American stance and called for an end to the protests.

"We're facing an extraordinary dilemma. If we make a wrong step we can fall into a ravine... therefore I'm asking our Muslim people to stop demonstrating," he said, warning that ongoing demonstrations could further damage the country.

"I'm afraid ... if our actions do not express that Islam is grace from Allah, the name of Islam will be destroyed."

Harsh words

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, Haz has often delivered harsh words against the United States. He has said that he hoped the attacks would cleanse America of its sins.

He also said that the Indonesian government would not ban people who wish to join a jihad or a holy war in Afghanistan -- a statement that was later rebuked by the cabinet ministers.

Arief Budiman, sociologist at the University of Melbourne, explained that the changing comments of Indonesia's political leaders reflect that they are caught in the middle of the interests of their Muslim constituents and their positions as leaders of the country.

He claimed that Megawati is trapped between supporting the United States, Indonesia's big donor and business partner, and the need of political support from the Muslim parties.

However, Budiman said, that she seems to be able to balance both.

"She is more concerned with Indonesia's economic situation. The domestic pressures will be accommodated but not in reality, while the pressures from the U.S. will be accommodated in reality," Budiman said.

At present, over 1.3 million tourists have canceled their trips to Indonesia because of anti-American sentiment, causing a potential loss of $1.1 billion in revenue, The Jakarta Post daily reported on Friday.

Some hard-liner groups, including the Front of the Defenders of Islam, claimed they will hunt down Americans and expel them from the country.