Mixed reception greets Haile Selassie on his arrival in Jakarta 7 May 1968
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, arrived in Jakarta amid sharp protests from Muslim groups, accusing him of tyranny. Armored cars and troops stood by, in case of trouble, as the Emperor drove, with Indonesia’s president Suharto, from the airport to the Merdeka palace. However, there were no incidents.
As government banners flew overhead, praising the Emperor as a fighter for African independence, municipal workers hurriedly splashed whitewash over Muslim slogans like “go to hell, Selassie” and “Selassie no”, which had been painted overnight on the airport walls. About 200 Muslims were arrested before the Emperor arrived.
Muslim leaders have accused Emperor Selassie of repressing the muslim community in Ethiopia. However, they have not backed up their allegations. President Suharto and some independent newspapers had appealed to the Muslim groups to pay more attention to Indonesia affairs than to Ethiopia’s.
The welcome extended by President Suharto was a strong contrast to that of the muslims. At Merdeka palace, after the airport welcoming ceremony, President Suharto presented his guest with one of Indonesia’s highest decorations, the star of the Indonesian Republic, first class. In return, Emperor Selassie conferred his country’s Queen of Sheba medal on President Suharto.
Later in the Emperor’s three-day stay in the Indonesian capital, the two leaders held discussions which covered the middle east situation, Vietnam, Afro-Asian solidarity and freedom of religion.
