IPU faces boycott by Islamic factions
IPU faces boycott by Islamic factions
JAKARTA (JP): The coming conference of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union (IPU), to be hosted by the House of Representatives, may be
boycotted by some Indonesian legislators.
Several Islamic based parties warned here on Tuesday that they
would refuse to participate if delegates from the Israeli Knesset
attend.
"We demand the House of Representatives reject the
participation of the Israeli delegation," Crescent and Star Party
(PBB) faction chairman at the House, Ahmad Sumargono remarked.
"We will boycott the conference if the Israeli delegation
attends," he warned.
Sumargono claimed the faction's demand reflected the general
mood of most Muslims in the country, distraught by what he
described as Israel's recent slaughter of dozens of Palestinians.
The secretary-general of the United Development Party (PPP)
Ali Marwan Hanan also urged House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, chair
of the conference, to reject the delegation's attendance.
The 104th IPU conference is expected to be attended by 1,200
representatives from 114 parliaments and legislatures around the
world.
President Abdurrahman Wahid is due to open the week-long
conference on Sunday.
Established in 1889, the IPU is the only global parliamentary
organization.
During the conference, which will be held at the Jakarta
Convention Center, each delegation will be given time to address
the conference.
Two main topics highlight the agenda.
The first concerns attempted coups against democratically
elected governments and the second will look at development
financing and new paradigms to eliminate poverty.
Separately, on Tuesday, the National Council of Muslim
Student's Alumni (KAHMI) urged all political parties to reject
attendance by the Israeli delegation.
"We ask Islamic countries to reject the Israeli delegation,"
KAHMI said in a statement signed by chairman Fuad Bawazier and
secretary-general Herman Widyananda.
Before the issue gained the media spotlight, Akbar had already
predicted that controversy would arise as a result of the visit.
Nevertheless, he maintained that the House, as host, could not
reject the Israeli delegation since Israel is a member of IPU.
Akbar said that possibly he would meet with Knesset Speaker
Avraham Burg in a special meeting during the conference.
Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab noted that
while Indonesia has not changed its stance in recognizing the
Jewish state, such a rejection of the Israeli delegation should
have been conveyed well ahead of the conference.
"It should have been expressed long ago. Not now!" Alwi told
The Jakarta Post on Monday evening.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sumargono met with members of the
Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), which has pledged to sweep every
hotel and the Soekarno-Hatta Airport to weed out the Israeli
delegation.
"We will start sweeping tonight. We will 'slaughter' the
Israeli delegation if we find them," FPI's secretary Muchsin
Ahmad Alatas remarked.
Muchsin boasted that the organization would deploy 20,000
members to search for the Israeli delegation.
Meanwhile, legislator Arifin Junaidi of the National Awakening
Party (PKB) said these statements were an over-reaction.
"Indonesia is just the host, we do not decide the delegations.
The meeting is not between Indonesia and Israel," Arifin said.
Legislator Ade Komarrudin of Golkar Party faction condemned
FPI's threat to sweep foreigners.
"Do not manipulate religion as a political tool," he said.
(edt/jun)