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)
