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)