Well, the big pray in and demo outside the US Embassy on Friday didn't happen or at least not in the numbers expected. The permit for the demo was for 4500 people but only about 500 turned up.

The FPI (The Defenders of Islam Front (bin Laden is being sought by the FBI, Bush by the FPI, as one news website put it)) tried to have a demo yesterday outside parliament but it was broken up by the police because it's illegal to hold a demo on a public holiday.

The situation is quite tense, with lots of rumours flying about. One said there was a foiled attempt to sweep (raid looking for foreigners) Jakarta International School on Sunday night. Who they expected to find at the school at9:00 on a Sunday evening I don't know. Perhaps they think Americans are exceptionally studious. There was a rumour of some Germans having been beaten up in Lombok, but it turns out to have been the stuff of urban legend. Neither the German embassy nor the tourist authorities have been able to find any basis to it.

Much amusement was caused by a demo in Surabaya urging a boycott of US goods.When the demonstrators stopped for a drink they were caught drinking Fanta.

Bingley

Bingley