Mass protests in Indonesia are an industry and not so much an expression of public outcry or solidarity. Like all industries, it requires money, participants and consumers. I have heard stories from friends in Indonesia how there are “brokers” that can help gather the masses to use in protests. The price depends on whether the protest is peaceful or bloody. A lot of people actually make a living on this.

“Organizing a protest costs money and sometimes it can be very expensive,” said Zulkieflimanysah, PKS deputy chairman for political affairs. “We don’t have enough money to participate in China’s affairs right now because we need to focus on what’s happening in our own country.”

Jews and Israel are already popular “brand names.” Uighurs on the other hand, not so much. It wouldn’t be “profitable” to stage mass protests to support Chinese muslim friends.

Click on the link for the full article on The Jakarta Globe.