http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=341126&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25
Indonesian president is hurt by buffalo slur
Publish Date: Thursday,4 February, 2010, at 10:22 PM Doha Time
Agencies/Jakarta
They say you need a thick hide for public office but Indonesia's
President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has said he was hurt when his photo was
affixed to a buffalo's bottom at a recent rally. A highly politicised
parliamentary inquiry into the 2008 bailout of a small bank has sparked several
small and mostly peaceful protests in Indonesia.
One protest featured a buffalo with anti-government graffiti and a
picture of the president stuck to its behind. Yudhoyono, who is often referred
to as SBY after his initials, was quoted in the English language newspaper
Jakarta Post on Wednesday saying the buffalo stunt was offensive.
"Then there was a group of protesters leading a buffalo. They said 'SBY
is lazy, big and stupid, like a buffalo.' Was that really a demonstration?" the
president was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post, adding that he would
discuss protest etiquette with several district governors and ministers. "We
will discuss how people can conduct peaceful protests and respect others," he
said.
Youth minister and former presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said
yesterday that protesters should show the president more respect. "If you want
to talk about policy then we can disagree but we can always respect each
other," he said.
The Jakarta Post reported yesterday that police would not allow
protesters to bring livestock to rallies in future but Mallarangeng said
buffaloes would not be banned. But State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said a
long-standing ban on the beasts at protests would be enforced. "There's a law
that's been violated... which states clearly that protesters should not bring
animals, buffaloes," he said.
"Firstly, that's a violation of the law, and secondly, which is more
critical, when buffaloes are angry they'll kick and gore
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