Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
could not sleep during the evening of the Islamic Eid al-Fitr
celebration (July 28) as he recalled the destruction and killing of
innocents in Gaza, Palestine, by the Israeli Zionist military.
Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed and 8,000 injured,
two-thirds of them civilians, in Gaza in 24 days of Israels brutal
military aggression. At least 296 of the dead Palestinians were
children, according to the UN.
Wanting to stop the bloodshed and see long-term peace in Palestine,
Yudhoyono decided to write an open letter to world leaders, and the
leaders of Israel and Hamas.
His letter, published in the Straits Times on July 31, 2014, began,
"On Monday, after celebrating the joyous Islamic day of Eid al-Fitr
with my fellow countrymen in peace and serenity, I could not close my
eyes all night long. I watched on television the endless national and
international reporting on rising human casualties in Gaza caused by
violence and military actions. Most of those who died or were injured
were innocent civilians who were powerless and helpless to escape from
the deadly bullets and bombs. The screams of mothers who lost their
children, as well as cries of helpless children who suddenly lost their
parents, shook me to my deepest soul. I am convinced that anyone and any
nation who witnessed this unspeakable tragedy will feel the same sorrow
and sadness."
Indonesia has actively pursued efforts to help end the Palestinian
problem through diplomatic means and peace negotiations, but violence
continued to happen in occupied Palestine, in particularly in Gaza,
which has been under siege and blockade by Israeli occupiers for years.
Therefore, Yudhoyono felt obliged to issue a moral call to all
nations and world leaders, and specifically to the leaders of Hamas and
Israel, to immediately halt the violence and tragedy in
the region.
"With this call, I hope that world leaders will spare no time to
take common responsibility to work out or impose a ceasefire and end the
indiscriminate military operations which are adding more casualties
each passing hour," he noted.
He urged that Israeli strikes in the air, sea, and land will stop.
Likewise, the rockets launched from Hamas side must end, in order to
avoid retaliatory action or a vicious circle of violence.
"All the horrific images of conflict, war, and violence that we
have seen these days, and also in all these years, send the wrong
message to our children, as if this is the way the world is. Whereas in
the past decade, I have dutifully and tirelessly urged Indonesians of
all faiths to always honor peace, brotherhood, tolerance and harmony,"
President Yudhoyono stated.
He called on world leaders, particularly those in the UN Security
Council, and those with veto rights, as well the key countries in the
Middle East, to sit together and work out ways to impose a ceasefire.
"Although I am a Muslim, I realize fully well that this conflict is
not a religious conflict. I do not associate my call and thoughts with
Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Christianity, and any other faiths or
religious beliefs. The problems that we are facing now relate to the
issues of humanity, morality, law, and war ethics, as well as actions
from any side that have gone way beyond what is acceptable. This
humanitarian tragedy and unbearable human misery is also attributed to
the sense of responsibility from the leaders, which directly or
indirectly has made this humanitarian tragedy an enduring problem."
Indonesia has consistently and firmly supported the right of
Palestinians to independence and statehood. Indonesia called on the
world community to work together to secure the birth of an independent
and sovereign state of Palestine, recognized by the international
community. It shall be an independent Palestinian state which lives
peacefully side by side with Israel, and with other neighboring
countries, he noted.
"Soon after the ceasefire could be established, we must intensify
efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and advance a political
process in a more inclusive and conclusive fashion," he remarked.
Yudhoyono is not alone in expressing deep concern over the killings
in Gaza. Latin Americas leaders have spoken out louder in condemning
Israels Gaza offensive - labeling the Jewish state terrorist, recalling
ambassadors, and offering near-unanimous, unwavering support to
Palestinians.
"I cant remember another similar situation where [all the countries
in the region] have reacted practically as a bloc," said political
scientist Reginaldo Nasser, a professor at the Pontifical University in
Sao Paulo, Brazil, as reported by AFP recently.
One of the most symbolic recent developments came from Bolivian
President Evo Morales, who put Israel on its list of "Terrorist States"
and eliminated a visa waiver program for Israeli citizens.
Brazil President Dilma Rousseff this week called the Israeli
military operation a "massacre." Yet, Rousseffs condemnation did not go
as far as some of her peers. Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro
denounced "a war of extermination that has lasted nearly a century"
against the Palestinian people, AFP reported.
In recent weeks, several protests across the region, from Mexico to
southern Chile, have seen thousands of Latin Americans take to the
streets in support of Palestinians.
At the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, the US,
recently, Indonesia voiced strong criticism in the open debate
concerning the situations in the Middle East, including in Palestine.
Indonesian Ambassador Desra Percaya, in his capacity as Indonesias
Permanent Representative to the UN, strongly condemned Israels inhumane
attacks on Gaza Strip on July 22, 2014.
"If the UN Security Council cannot take real actions, such inaction
represents not only the UNs failure, but also a defeat against the
struggle for peace and humanity," Desra Percaya asserted.
Israel has violated international law many times. For that reason,
Desra continued, Indonesia insists the UN Security Council, which has
the responsibility for maintaining international security and peace,
must take decisive actions as soon as possible.
"Stop Israels aggression, make sure that humanitarian aid really
reaches the victims, and push Palestine and Israel to conduct peace
talks," Ambassador Desra urged.
Israels inhumane military attacks, especially those launched
recently on Shujaiya and Khan Younis, hurt Indonesians very much, he
added.
He asserted that the root of the violence is actually Israels
occupation of Palestine. As long as the occupation continues, Ambassador
Desra said, violence will be seen, as well.
"For that reason, Indonesia will continually support the
Palestinians struggles to establish a sovereign and independent country,
with East Jerusalem being its capital," Desra emphasized.
Indonesia, a staunch supporter of Palestine, has no diplomatic
relations with Israel and said it will establish ties with Israel only
when Palestine has its full independence. (WDY)
Yudhoyono Urges World Leaders To Pursue Peace-Making for Palestine
Senin, 4 Agustus 2014 13:55 WIB