JAKARTA, Indonesia – Thousands of Muslims poured into Jakarta Jan. 7, demanding a holy war against Christians living in riot-torn provinces of Indonesia. Maluku and North Maluku – about 1,600 miles northeast of Jakarta – have been plagued by religious fighting between Christians and Muslims for about a year. The fighting has left nearly 1,000 dead.
“We give (President Abdurrahman Wahid) one month to stop the killings of Muslims,” said Husin Ali Al Habsy, a speaker at the rally. “Otherwise, we are ready to send at least 10,000 people there to defend the Muslims.”
The Jakarta protest, held across the street from the presidential palace, followed a series of smaller protests in the capital in recent days by Muslims, who make up 90 percent of Indonesia’s population of 210 million.
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