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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: Police Use Force on Demonstrators in Pakistan, Indonesia

Aired October 09, 2001 - 07:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: There has been more anti-American reaction in the Muslim world to the U.S.-led air strikes against Afghanistan. Today in Indonesia, police fired warning shots and tear gas to break up a crowd demonstrating outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country.

While in Pakistan, Reuters reports that three anti-U.S. demonstrators have been shot to death by Pakistani police in a town near the Afghan border northwest of Quetta.

CNN's senior Asia correspondent Mike Chinoy is in Pakistan this morning. He has the very latest for us -- good morning, Mike.

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, a second day of air strikes and a second day of demonstrations in several cities around Pakistan and, as you mentioned, near the southwestern city of Quetta, reports that three demonstrators were killed by police. Here in Pashawar in the northwest frontier province where I am, another demonstration, as well, by Islamic fundamentalists opposed to the air strikes.

But what is interesting about these demonstrations is as much what is not happening as what is happening. The Islamic fundamentalists here came out in fairly small numbers. Their slogans were angry, but the usual criticisms of the United States, voicing support for Osama bin Laden, denouncing Pakistan's government. But the government itself put on a very, very noticeable show of force with police, soldiers, heavily armed ringing the area and despite the sound and the fury, in the end, that demonstration dissipated and another one called for later in the day did not materialize as well.

This an indication that although many people in Pakistan are upset at what has happened with the U.S.-led air strikes and some clearly are prepared to go to the streets, we do not see evidence of this so far becoming a mass movement that could really endanger the government. The government of President Musharraf took a major step on Sunday to ensure that that doesn't become the case, the president removing the head of Pakistani military intelligence and other generals considered to be close to the Taliban in order to consolidate his own power.

Some other fallout from the air strikes, though. The international aid effort in this part of the country has ground almost to a complete halt. Security concerns have confined most aid workers to their homes, some of them not even going to their offices. The UNHCR says its teams have been unable to reach sites along the border that they've been trying to prepare to welcome or to host new refugees who may be coming across the border. Those sites are in very rugged and barren terrain in areas not normally accessible to foreigners, the U.N. having trouble with the Pakistani authorities and with angry locals. And so there is lots of supplies here in Pashawar, very little of that making its way to the border where the U.N. is fearful that you could have a huge influx of refugees if the fighting inside Afghanistan continues -- Paula.

ZAHN: So, Mike, our military experts are telling us they believe these air strikes will continue for another day at least, perhaps as many as two days. If that's the case, what does that mean to the people who made it to the border and then are without food?

CHINOY: Well, they're in trouble. The U.N. officials we've spoken with say they really are not sure because communications are so bad whether or not people are actually coming across in big numbers now or whether or not they are staying put on the Afghan side or whether they are feeling that the strikes have been targeted enough that it will be safe for them to go back home.

In any event, conditions inside Afghanistan are, if anything, much, much worse than conditions here. So regardless of whether they come across or stay on the other side, they're still in terrible trouble, and the escalation of the conflict in the past few days has meant that the aid operations, which were virtually at a standstill inside Afghanistan, have now come to an almost a standstill here on this side as well -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right, Mike Chinoy, thank you so much for that report.

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