Hamzah demands U.S. stop attack on Afghanistan<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz, in his capacity as chairman of the Muslim-based
\nUnited Development Party (PPP), urged the U.S. on Saturday to
\nstop its military campaign in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\"If the military strikes are not stopped, how many more Afghan
\ncivilians will fall victim?\" he said, when opening a PPP national
\nconference at Millennium Hotel in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"As part of the nation, we in PPP must support the campaign
\nagainst terrorism, but we are opposed to attacks on Afghanistan,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who is also Vice President, appeared to be at odds
\nwith the government over the U.S.-Afghanistan affair. The
\nMegawati administration's official stand is to be \"concerned
\nabout the military action\", but is keeping it under review in
\ncase developments compel the government to alter its stance.<\/p>\n
Hamzah insisted that Indonesia's stance on the affair should
\nbe firmer than that of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
\n(OIC), which stopped short of condemning the U.S. military
\naction.<\/p>\n
Hamzah demanded that the U.S. produce convincing evidence that
\nthe dissident Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden was the
\nmastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center
\nand the Pentagon.<\/p>\n
\"It's a big question that remains unanswered,\" Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
Radical Muslim groups, which see the attack on Afghanistan as
\nan assault on Islam, have demanded that the government freeze or
\neven sever diplomatic ties with the U.S.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said the U.S. had not honored its promise of measured
\nand limited attacks on Afghanistan, as seen in the great number
\nof civilians reportedly killed.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said he would not forbid anyone from staging an anti-
\nU.S. protest. He saw no reason to stop a planned massive
\ndemonstration, reportedly to involve a million Muslims, to
\npressure America to stop the attacks.<\/p>\n
\"Please go ahead and voice your aspirations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But he advised that the demonstration should be peaceful and
\nnot damage the public interest.<\/p>\n
\"I wouldn't prohibit demonstrations as long as the law is not
\nbreached,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hamzah considered that the U.S.-Afghan conflict should be
\nresolved through the UN.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Jakarta branch of the PPP, Djafar
\nBadjeber, said on Friday that he would organize an anti-U.S.
\nrally involving \"millions\" of PPP supporters in the capital
\nunless the U.S. stopped its military strikes.<\/p>\n
The planned rally would involve activists of other Muslim-
\nbased parties such as the Justice Party, the Crescent Star Party
\nand the National Mandate Party.<\/p>\n
However, PPP promised that it would not \"sweep\" (search for
\nand attempt to expel) foreigners.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hamzah-demands-us-stop-attack-on-afghanistan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}