[Kabar-indonesia] SBY urges moderation in dealing with MidEast crisis [+Sunday protests]

[Joyo at aol.com]

also: Religious leaders set to hold large anti-Israel rally; 
Indonesians protest against Israeli attacks on Lebanon; 
and Indonesian Muslims protest Israel offensive

The Jakarta Post 
Sunday, August 6, 2006

SBY urges moderation in dealing with MidEast crisis

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Kuala Lumpur

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned that resorting to extremism would 
only obstruct efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war in Lebanon.

Speaking at a snap press conference Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Susilo said 
that anger over the plight of the Lebanese people was understandable, but sending 
militants to the conflict zone was out of the question.

"Our anger and dismay should be channeled into realistic measures. We should 
not take steps that would not be possible to be implemented in the Middle 
East," he said.

Susilo was responding to statements from militant groups at home that pledged 
they would send militants to strife-torn Lebanon and Palestine to fight 
Israeli troops.

The Jakarta-based Asean Muslim Youth Movement claimed to have trained more 
than 3,000 volunteers to carry out attacks in revenge for Israel's military 
strikes.

Chairman of the organization Suaib Didu said attacks would be limited to 
Israel's vital interests and those who supported Israel's aggression in Palestine 
and Lebanon.

He said that western countries such as the United States, Britain and 
Australia as well as businesses could be targeted unless they stopped supporting 
Israel.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has said that he was not aware of the group but 
maintained he could do nothing if it was limited to mere rhetoric.

Susilo insisted that the best way to show opposition for Israeli aggression 
was by contributing humanitarian aid.

"As for diplomatic efforts, leave it to the government," Susilo said, adding 
that Indonesia has made various efforts to stop the continuing violence in 
Lebanon and Palestine.

Susilo spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday 
on the need to prepare peacekeeping forces that would be sent to the Middle 
East, soon after a go-ahead is given by the United Nations.

Malaysia has offered to deploy 1,000 peacekeeping troops to monitor any 
cease-fire.

Susilo also tried to galvanize support from members of the Organization of 
Islamic Conference (OIC) to send contingents for a peacekeeping force.

On his way to Kuala Lumpur from an oil palm plantation in Selangor, Susilo 
called the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, also asking him for 
support in sending a peacekeeping force.

"I would be pleased if troops from Brunei could also be part of the 
peacekeeping force. It would be good politically and socially as it would represent OIC 
members from Asia," Susilo told Bolkiah on Saturday, who reportedly agreed to 
the proposal.

Susilo said earlier that Indonesia had readied one battalion to join the 
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), once the UN gave its mandate.

Susilo also called Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to convey his support 
for the country and concern over the plight of the Lebanese people and the 
possibility of sending Indonesian troops to Lebanon through UNIFIL.

"Prime Minister Siniora said that he would welcome a contingent from 
Indonesia," Yudhoyono said.

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The Jakarta Post 
Sunday, August 6, 2006

Religious leaders set to hold large anti-Israel rally

Ary Hermawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Muslims and people of other faiths are set to join forces here Sunday in a 
huge rally to condemn Israel for its brutal offensive against Lebanon and to 
press for an immediate cease-fire.

Jakartans are being advised to avoid the roads leading to the Hotel Indonesia 
traffic circle, where the demonstration will start at around 1 p.m.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin, who will lead the rally, said 
protesters would later march to the State Palace and the United States Embassy in 
Central Jakarta. Around one million people are expected to join, he added.

Din called on Jakartans to join the rally, dress in white and avoid carrying 
sharp weapons. "This is a rally of a country that promotes peace and condemns 
any form of violence," he said.

He offered a personal apology to members of the public who may be 
inconvenienced by the massive demonstration, especially those who will pass the Hotel 
Indonesia traffic circle and the National Monument.

"The rally is to demonstrate our solidarity with our brothers in Palestine 
and Lebanon," said Din. "The war must be stopped."

People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid, House of 
Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono and non-Muslim leaders, namely, Andreas Yewangoe of 
the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) and Julius Kardinal Dataatmaja 
from the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), are scheduled to give speeches in 
the rally.

Also in attendance will be I Nyoman Suwandhi from the Indonesian Hindu Dharma 
Association (PHDI), Bikku Vidya Sasana from the Indonesian Buddhist Great 
Shangga Council (KASI) and Budi Tanuwibowo from the Confucian Supreme Council of 
Indonesia (Matakin).

Meanwhile, more than 100 jihadis paraded in West Kalimantan on Saturday as 
their leader vowed they would head abroad to attack Jewish interests in 
countries supporting Israel.

The turnout of 160 men wearing black-hooded robes from the hard-line ASEAN 
Muslim Youth Movement (AMYM) was dramatically lower that the 3,000 that leader 
Suaib Didu had earlier claimed would show up.

The men stood in military formation and demonstrated martial arts in a public 
square opposite the military headquarters in Pontianak, the capital of West 
Kalimantan. "Their aim is (to) protect our friends from Israeli aggression," 
Didu told AFP.

"They will be sent to various cities, and we will see if they can enter 
Israel or not," he said, speaking after several fighters demonstrated their skills. 
As one man lay on the ground, another broke a brick in half on his forehead 
with his bare hands.

The men will travel overland from West Kalimantan into Malaysian Borneo, said 
Didu, because many lacked passports and proper travel documents, implying 
that immigration procedures were less stringent at crossings here.

But police said they doubted the group would send anyone. "It's just emotions 
that are speaking," police spokesman Anton Alam Bachrul told AFP, adding that 
police in Pontianak had spoken to the group Friday.

Some onlookers believed the "jihad register" was a ploy by intelligence 
authorities to gather information about possible radicals in the area.

One man, Bahrudin Nahris, claimed Saturday to be the leader of a suicide 
bombing mission, but declined to say how they would get to the Middle East without 
funding or travel documents, AP reported.

The AMYM claims it has already dispatched 217 suicide bombers, including 72 
Indonesians and citizens of six other Southeast Asian nations, to attack Jewish 
targets in countries such as Britain, the United States and possibly 
Australia.

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Associated Press 
August 6, 2006

Indonesians protest against Israeli attacks on Lebanon

JAKARTA (AP): Hundreds of Indonesians protested in at least three cities 
Sunday against Israel's attacks on Lebanon, calling Israel a terrorist state and 
urging it to stop.

At least 500 protesters, most wearing white Muslim tunics, held an 
anti-Israel demonstration in Surabaya, the East Java provincial capital.

"The U.S. has to stop the brutality of Israel troops in Gaza and Lebanon," 
Rita Cecirapanin, a woman preacher wearing a head scarf, told the gathering.

"How many more children will have to die by Israel bombings?" she asked.

Some protesters set Israeli and U.S. flags on fire as others shouted their 
condemnation of Israel's attacks, yelling: "U.S. supports Israel the terrorist."

Another 300 protesters held a similar rally in Yogyakarta.

In Jakarta, about 300 protesters gathered at the city's main traffic circle, 
with some carrying large banners reading "Give a chance to peace." Others 
shouted "God is Great."

They planned to march to the U.S. Embassy later in the day.

Israel has said that it has a right to defend itself from repeated rocket 
attacks by Hezbollah militants based across its northern border in southern 
Lebanon. Israel's ongoing military campaign in the region has claimed more than 550 
Lebanese lives, mostly civilians. About 30 Israelis have been killed by 
Hezbollah's rocket attacks.

The U.S. blindly supports the Zionist regime's atrocities by providing all 
weapons for the attacks.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has had near-daily 
rallies against Israel since its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon began more than three 
weeks ago.

The Indonesian government has accused Israel of violating international law 
and called for an immediate cease-fire backed by a UN-led peacekeeping force.

Indonesia has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has traditionally supported 
the Palestinian cause for an independent state.

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Indonesian Muslims protest Israel offensive

JAKARTA, August 6 (AFP) -- Thousands of Indonesians held street rallies 
Sunday to condemn Israel's offensive in the Middle East as the capital Jakarta 
braced for a major protest.

The demonstration in the capital of the world's most populous Muslim nation, 
dubbed the "action of millions of believers," was to march through the city 
centre and end up at the US embassy here.

Jakarta police said they were expecting thousands to take part in the 
rallies, which come a day after the Asian Muslim Youth Movement said it was prepared 
to send hardliners to attack Jewish interests in countries that back Israel.

In Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya, some 1,500 Muslims held a march 
Sunday to condem Israeli attacks in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, ElShinta radio 
reported.

The demonstrators also raised funds for aid with a "one dollar, one person" 
campaign that has already raised some 150 million rupiah (16,500 dollars), the 
report said.

In the city of Yogyakarta, some 3,000 people from various Islamic 
organisations gathered near the city's main post office to hold an open protest against 
Israel and the United States, it said.

A similar protest involving hundreds of people took place in the city of 
Medan, it said.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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