Indonesia deeply disappointed by American veto

Indonesia deeply disappointed by American veto

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia yesterday expressed disappointment at
the United States' decision to veto a United Nations Security
Council Resolution which calls on Israel to halt its plans to
seize Arab lands in East Jerusalem.

"It is deeply disappointing that the United States thinks it
is necessary to veto something the initiators, the Non-Aligned
Movement caucus in the Security Council, including Indonesia,
considers a clear violation of the previous agreements and also
deviates from earlier Security Council decisions on Israeli
settlements," Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said.

The U.S. on Wednesday vetoed a draft resolution sponsored by
the NAM caucus in the Council -- Botswana, Honduras, Indonesia,
Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda -- which called on Israel to stop the
planned expropriation of 53 hectares of Arab lands occupied since
the 1967 war.

The Israeli plan also directly violates Security Council
Resolution No. 242/1967 which demands Israel's withdrawal from
all occupied lands.

Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal capital, a claim
unrecognized by the UN and the world community.

"The voting shows 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council
agree with the resolution, including those holding veto powers,"
Alatas said referring to the support from permanent members
Britain, China, France and Russia to the draft resolution.

"It is very clear that in this case the United States'
position is an isolated one," he added.

Wednesday's veto was the first time Washington had used one in
five-years. The last time was in 1990 when the United States
vetoed a resolution which also could have proved adverse to
Israeli interests.

The head of the Islamic Solidarity Committee, Lukman Harun, in
a statement said his organization strongly condemned the U.S.
veto.

Washington's veto of a decision supported by the majority of
the Security Council shows "the U.S. is a defender and protector
of an aggressor and terrorist country in the Middle East, which
is Israel," Lukman said.

The Islamic Solidarity Committee, which gained recognition for
mobilizing mass support and funds for the plight of Bosnian
Moslems, further urged "Islamic countries not to recognize the
state of Israel until it withdraws from the territories occupied
since the 1967 war."

Jakarta still refuses to acknowledge the existence of Israel
as a state.

Later yesterday, around 100 Moslem youths staged a noisy
protest outside the American Embassy here to denounce the veto.

Gathering after Friday prayers at the nearby Istiqlal Grand
Mosque, a group of youths calling themselves the United
Solidarity Action for Palestine Moslems, said Washington's
decision was influenced by Israel's Jewish lobby.

In a lively, but orderly and short demonstration, lasting half
an hour, the protesters read a statement to the crowd which
called for Moslems to boycott U.S. interests in Indonesia.

"We support fully the attitude of the Indonesian government
which supported the Security Council resolution," the statement
said.

The students chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) and unfurled
banners and placards, some of which read "U.S., Your Veto Hurts
Moslems", "Your Veto Kills Human Rights" and "America, Stop Being
the Slaves of Jews".

The young men dispersed peacefully after handing their
placards to the dozens of police watching them. (swe/mds)