RI urges countries to solve root issues behind terror acts<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, New York<\/p>\n
Amidst the global war on terrorism, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri strongly urged all countries to review their
\ncounter-terror policy and to give equal treatment to all parties
\ninvolved in international conflicts as part of actions to
\neradicate the terrorist threat.<\/p>\n
Speaking in front of the 58th United Nations General Assembly
\nhere on Tuesday, Megawati aired the grievances expressed by many
\nother Muslim countries, that they suffered from a bad image
\nbecause they were seen as hotbeds of terrorism.<\/p>\n
"In order to prevent, deter or eradicate international
\nterrorism, I would like to propose that the countries that have
\nbeen the main target of terrorist groups, should review their
\nconventional anti-terrorism policies, particularly in dealing
\nwith the Arab-Israeli conflict," said the President.<\/p>\n
She was likely referring to the United States, Australia and
\nother western countries that support Israel in the prolonged
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
"As head of state of the world's most populous Muslim country,
\nI sincerely invite all world leaders to pay attention to this
\nmatter. Let us identify the root causes of terrorism to prevent
\nthem from spreading and causing the emergence of other
\nunsatisfactory aspirations," Megawati said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is striving to fend off the bad image caused by its
\nown Muslims who have been involved in terrorist attacks,
\nfollowing the Sept. 11 human tragedy in New York and Washington.<\/p>\n
Megawati suspected that the existence of the al-Qaeda
\nterrorist network and later on of the Jamaah Islamiyah network,
\nblamed for a string of terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia,
\nincluding Indonesia, has given a misperception that the terrorism
\nwas related to a certain religion.<\/p>\n
Despite the jargon and statements from world leaders, the
\nPresident said, it was a fact that all those who have been
\narrested or questioned had been Muslims.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia has supported the global war on terrorism,
\nit has become a victim of terrorist acts and "I want to underline
\nthat the root cause of terrorism is the unfair treatment of
\nMuslim countries in many international conflicts."<\/p>\n
Megawati stressed that the "unfair and one-sided" handling of
\nthe Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the weapons of mass
\ndestruction issue that triggered the recent Iraq war have
\nprovided fertile ground for violence.<\/p>\n
The United States has vetoed several UN resolutions on the
\nPalestinian-Israeli conflict, while Western countries have been
\ndivided over the strike on Iraq. Russia, Germany and France
\nopposed the coalition's military operation in Iraq.<\/p>\n
The President said: "Many eminent Muslim organizations in
\nIndonesia believe that once the major powers behave in a fairer
\nmanner and show their impartiality in the Middle East conflict,
\nthen most root causes of the terrorism, perpetrated in the name
\nof Islam, and cannot be justified in whatever condition, would
\nhave been resolved," she added.<\/p>\n
Megawati insisted that Indonesia would remain consistent in
\nits anti-terror campaign and that it had shown to the world how
\nthat it was capable of finding the perpetrators of the Oct. 12
\nBali bombing and the Aug. 5 JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She noted that Indonesian police had arrested dozens of people
\nallegedly involved in the two incidents and that two perpetrators
\nof the Bali bombing had been sentenced to death. The police have
\nalso arrested dozens of others who were allegedly linked to the
\ntwo incidents and a string of bomb blasts in the past.<\/p>\n
Major Muslim organizations, especially Nahdlatul Ulama,
\nMuhammadiyah and Indonesia Council of Ulemas (MUI), and most
\npeople have condemned the terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the President also called for reform in the UN
\norganization, saying the world body should be empowered to build
\na fair, prosperous and humane world.<\/p>\n
"We are indeed in need of fundamental reform. And to that end
\nthis organization needs improvement in its performance to enable
\nit to contribute more constructively towards attainment of more
\npeaceful, stable, just prosperous and humane world," she said,
\nreferring to her father Sukarno's speech on the same call in the
\nsame forum in 1960.<\/p>\n
"We must have the courage to review, revitalize and empower
\nits institutions and working methods," Megawati added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, just outside of the UN complex, dozens of activists
\nfrom the Information Center for a Referendum in Aceh (SIRA)
\nstaged a rally, protesting the ongoing military operation in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
The group, whose chairperson was recently imprisoned in Aceh
\nfor organizing a rally, also demonstrated in Washington over the
\nweekend during the visit of Coordinating Minister for the
\nPolitical and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-urges-countries-to-solve-root-issues-behind-terror-acts-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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