Moslem group condemns Serb aggression in Bosnia

Moslem group condemns Serb aggression in Bosnia

JAKARTA (JP): An influential Indonesian Moslem movement
yesterday accused the Western world of conspiring to destroy the
predominantly Moslem Bosnia-Herzegovina and called on the
Indonesian government to sever ties with Belgrade.

The Indonesian Committee for World Moslems Solidarity (KISDI)
stated that the United Nations have "tied up the feet and hands"
of the Bosnian Moslems by refusing to lift an arms embargo
imposed on them at the start of the four-year war.

"In order to appear humane, the UN sends food supplies so that
the Bosnians can survive for a short time, before the Serbs
slaughter and rape their women," spokesman Ahmad Sumargono said
in a statement.

"The UN pretends to be blind and not see that the Serbs
continue to obtain arms and fuel from Russia and the Western
countries," he said.

KISDI, which over the years has organized massive rallies for
various causes, called on the Indonesian government to "take
concrete actions it has initiated, which is to call for a meeting
of the UN Security Council and pressure it to lift the arms
embargo".

President Soeharto, as chairman of the 112-member Non-Aligned
Movement, offered during his visit to Bosnia in March this year
to help find peaceful solutions to the conflict.

KISDI called on the government yesterday to sever diplomatic
ties with Belgrade, and to provide facilities for Bosnians who
wish to come to Indonesia to seek help and support.

"We call on the government to express our country's concern
over the situation by sending assistance in the form of food,
clothing and medications," Sumargono said.

"Our organization is ready to mobilize and raise aid from
among Indonesian Moslems," he pledged.

The organization also called on the Indonesian Council of
Ulemas to resume its activities in raising funds for Bosnians and
cooperate with other Moslem organizations here.

"We also call on Indonesian Moslems to pray, individually or
together with their congregation, and ask Allah to help ease the
suffering of the Bosnian Moslems," Sumargono said.

KISDI called on the heads of Islamic states to mobilize their
forces and help find a solution to the bloody conflicts in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"It's time for you to mobilize the strength of Moslems in your
countries, to show concrete solidarity and help solve the
conflicts, through either diplomatic or military approaches,"
Sumargono said.

The Bosnian Serbs have taken over the UN "safe area" of
Srebrenica and are now moving into Zepa, one of the last towns
still under Bosnian control. Thousands of Moslem civilians were
forced to evacuate the Srebrenica enclave last week in the
largest single expulsion of the Bosnian war.

KISDI sent its statement of concern to the government, the
Indonesian Council of Ulemas, and leaders of a number of Islamic
states. It made 15,000 copies of the statement and distributed
them to mosques and other Moslem organizations. (swe)