Responding to a growing reaction to the anti-Islam documentary film Fitna in Indonesia, the Dutch government was shocked at the attack on its consulate here Wednesday but said it did not plan to protest the incident.
Paul Yinkers, head of the political section at the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, said at a press conference after a visit to the damaged consulate Thursday, he was deeply concerned over the incident.
Despite the shock, he said, his side would not file a protest note to the Indonesian government because the Foreign Affairs Ministry had already made an apology following the attack.
Up to 40 Muslim students of the Indonesian Muslim Student Association (HMI) burned down the consulate gate and pelted stones at its glass doors after holding a free-speech forum condemning the documentary which they said defamed Islam.
The students also took the Dutch flag down and burned it and then raised Indonesia's red and white.
The police have detained 29 protesters for further investigation.
Dozens of other Muslim students came to the city police Thursday, asking for the release of several colleagues who had been detained but who were, in fact, not involved in the attack.
Yinkers also expressed his appreciation toward the Indonesian government and police for both acting rapidly in handling the anarchistic reaction to the documentary.
His government, he said, were confident that the Indonesian administration and police would handle the case professionally and all those involved in the crime would be brought to justice in accordance with Indonesian law.
Deputy chief of the detectives directorate at the provincial police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Darmawan Sutawijaya, also vowed Thursday to act "professionally" in handling the students involved in the attack.
"Up to now, they are still being detained. We will interrogate them with a thorough investigation of the case," he said, adding that none had been nominated as suspect since the inquiry was still underway.
Visiting People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid also expressed his deep concern over the incident, saying all forms of anarchism were intolerable, adding that it was also a good lesson for the Dutch government which should punish those who made the documentary.
Hidayat called on students to avoid committing provocative actions in response to the film because, he said, such actions would not solve the problem.
Anticipating negative reactions from Indonesia, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has barred people from provoking anarchism or from sweeping?? Dutch citizens living in Indonesia.
