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Asia vents its displeasure at US bombing of Iraq
( 2003-03-20 18:28 ) (7 )

An Indonesian Muslim woman is overcome by emotions as she prays for Iraq during an anti-war demonstration in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta, Thursday, March 20, 2003. Around 1,000 protesters rallied outside the heavily guarded American Embassy in downtown Jakarta, calling for the immediate end to the war. [AP]

"I don't approve of this," snorted Zhou Jundong, towelling off his muscles at a Beijing gym as he watched US bombs slamming into Baghdad on television.

"Attacking Saddam will not eliminate the threat of terrorism. It will probably increase it," he said.

From Pakistan and Indonesia to South Korea and Vietnam, Asia has suffered war, ethnic strife and militant violence. Now, as they watch the bombardment of a defiant Iraq by the world's only superpower, many in the region seem gripped by anger and foreboding.

Anti-American sentiment was strongest in Muslim Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, where many saw the attack as the beginning of an American campaign to subjugate the Islamic world and seize control of oil.

A text message flashing around Philippine mobile phones suggested Washington's post-war plans would divide Iraq into three regions + "premium, regular and unleaded".

"America should understand that it too cannot live in peace by making things difficult for Muslims," said Syed Ahmed Bukhari, chief cleric of India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid.

Other Asians decried the lone-wolf behaviour of a country they hate and love in equal measure for its unmatched geopolitical power and its popular culture of Coca-Cola, Big Macs and Hollywood blockbusters.

"As a Buddhist, I believe we're all humans and shouldn't kill each other," said Nualkhae Lappanichaiyakit, a waitress at a Starbucks coffee shop in Bangkok. "We should talk it through."

PROTESTS BUT SOME SUPPORT

Small groups of demonstrators chanted anti-war slogans outside the US embassies in Manila, Bangkok and Taipei and at least 2,000 protesters marched in Jakarta, shouting "America, terrorist, terrorist".

"I'm so angry with the United States. So many children will be hurt in Iraq," said Anna, an Indonesian university student. "Why is it that they ignore the rest of the world?"

The fervent hope was for a short war that would limit damage to the economies of a region that lives off trade.

"All I care about is my stocks," said Huang Yu-chun, a cheerful Taiwanese housewife, her eyes fixed on an electronic board at a brokerage. "If the war ends quickly enough, there is a good chance my stocks will rise further."

Jakarta food vendor Choiriyah, 30, also prayed for a quick ending.

"I hope the war is swift. If it takes a long time, I fear that this will create unrest and the victims will be little people like me."

Still, Washington had its share of supporters.

"Saddam Hussein should have been punished a long, long time ago for what he did to Kuwait," said Singapore property agent Andy Ho. "When it started, my first reaction was 'How come so slow + the US is only dropping one or two bombs on Iraq'."

One Japanese businessman said his country was in a tight spot and should give financial help but not get involved in fighting.

"But I am not against the war," he said. "Iraq has been deceiving the inspectors for years."

PAKISTANIS FEAR THE WORST

In Pakistan, a hotbed of Muslim militancy and an often reluctant ally in the US campaign in Afghanistan, some feared their country was next on Washington's hit-list.

"God help us," sighed Jalaldin Chaudry, a 60-year-old cigarette vendor. "They couldn't find anything to implicate Iraq, but they still attacked. What does this mean for the rest of us?"

Around 800 students chanting "Bush is the killer of Muslims" marched in the central city of Multan and burned a US flag.

In Cambodia and Vietnam, two countries scarred by war, there was a feeling of sad resignation.

"The result of war is always destruction," said Pich Piseth, who skipped classes to join dozens of others glued to a TV in a Phnom Penh restaurant. "In Cambodia, we know what that means."

(Reuters)