Govt to assist aid agencies<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government said it appreciated the initiative from community
\ngroups and nongovernmental organizations which plan to send
\nhumanitarian assistance to Iraq, saying that the move would be
\nthe most effective way to support the Iraqi people.<\/p>\n
Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday
\nthat the government would provide assistance for the
\norganizations to convey the aid.<\/p>\n
\"There is an urgency for both government and community leaders
\nto focus on humanitarian assistance in expressing sympathy and an
\nanti-war stance,\" he Hassan said after a meeting with a group of
\nMuslim leaders.<\/p>\n
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Indonesian Red
\nCross are among several organizations that have revealed plans to
\nsend medical assistance and other relief to Iraq.<\/p>\n
PKS president Hidayat Nurwahid, who was also at the meeting
\nwith Hassan, said on Wednesday that the first person to leave for
\nthe Middle East was the party's treasurer Lutfi Hassan Ishak.<\/p>\n
He added that the party had already registered 1,500 people
\nwho were ready to go on a relief mission, but due to limited
\nfunds the party would not send that many.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said the number of humanitarian workers would be
\ndetermined pending Lutfi's observation reports.<\/p>\n
So far the government has no plans to provide assistance for
\nthe Iraqi people, asserting that it is the responsibility of the
\nUnited States which initiated the war.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's position on this issue contradicts that of the
\nUnited Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who since the
\nbeginning of the war has emphasized the need for relief instead
\nof stopping the war.<\/p>\n
After the meeting with Hassan, the religious leaders called on
\nthe public to concentrate more on gathering humanitarian support
\nfor the Iraqis rather than fighting alongside them.<\/p>\n
\"To sacrifice our wealth for other people should be conducted
\nfirst before we sacrifice our lives for others,\" Umar Shihab from
\nthe Indonesia Ulemas Council (MUI) said.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on the intention of several Muslim groups
\nwho had begun to register people to fight as mercernaries in
\nIraq.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar also said that
\nexpressing support for the Iraqis should be conducted in the most
\neffective way.<\/p>\n
\"We fully understand people's deep sympathy for Iraqis, but it
\nshould be carried out in the most effective way so it will truly
\nhelp them,\" the preacher, popularly known as Aa Gym, said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-assist-aid-agencies-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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