Pressure mounts against Israel in archery meet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Pressure is mounting for the government to
\nreject Israel's participation in an international sporting event
\njust days before it is due to start.<\/p>\n
Public and religious figures suggested yesterday the
\ngovernment reconsider the participation of Israel in the 38th
\nWorld Outdoor Archery Championships being held here between Aug.
\n1 and 6, cautioning that mass protests could arise.<\/p>\n
\"Their presence will create far reaching consequences,\" warned
\nAnwar Haryono, chairman of the Indonesian Council for Islamic
\nPropagation.<\/p>\n
Despite arguments by some officials that politics should be
\nseparated from sporting events, Anwar argued that such issues
\nwere inseparable.<\/p>\n
\"I am calling on the government to reject their
\nparticipation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The influential Islamic Committee for World Moslem Solidarity
\nalso warned that Israel's participation would stir trouble.<\/p>\n
Political scientist Juwono Sudarsono also feels that Israel
\nshouldn't take part in the tournament.<\/p>\n
\"It is better that they not participate. It is best that by
\ntheir own volition they do not attend,\" Juwono remarked
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Jakarta was chosen by the World Archery Body (FITA) as the
\nvenue of the championships which also serve as the a qualifying
\nround to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, U.S. All FITA members
\nmust therefore participate in the tournament.<\/p>\n
Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with both Israel and
\nPortugal. Lisbon broke off diplomatic relations after the
\nintegration of East Timor by Indonesia in 1976, while Jakarta
\ndoes not recognize the existence of the state of Israel.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday that the
\nmatter is still being discussed by the various agencies
\nresponsible for the tournament, but added that the foreign
\nministry has always been consistent in its position of having no
\nrelations with Israel.<\/p>\n
\"In the past we have always maintained a policy of not having
\nmatches with Israel or even accepting them here in Indonesia,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Despite Indonesia's oft stated position, the government
\nallowed Israeli Prime Minister Yithzak Rabin to visit in a
\nprivate capacity in 1993.<\/p>\n
Juwono regrets the Indonesian Archery Association's failure to
\nconsult other government agencies before accepting to host the
\nchampionship.<\/p>\n
\"They should have first consulted the foreign ministry,\" he
\nsaid adding that even the most technical activities contain a
\npolitical dimension.<\/p>\n
\"There is no activity, no matter how technical, which is void
\nof politics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Juwono rebuffed claims that by rejecting Israel Indonesia
\nwould be committing an anti-semitic act. He further accused the
\nInternational Olympic Committee of discriminatingly giving
\nbenefits to Israel.<\/p>\n
\"Even the IOC is not free of political interests. Their
\nofficials represent the concerns of the rich countries and
\nIsrael,\" he said. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pressure-mounts-against-israel-in-archery-meet-1447893297",
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