RI Muslims slam Israel, U.S. for Yassin's death

RI Muslims slam Israel, U.S. for Yassin's death

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian Muslims reacted angrily to the assassination of Hamas
leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by Israel, with rallies held in
several major cities on Java island on Friday in a show of
solidarity with the Palestinians.

Most of the rallies turned into verbal attacks on the United
States, Israel's long-standing ally.

At least 3,000 people held a demonstration at the Gladag
traffic circle in the Central Java town of Surakarta, demanding
that the United Nations declare Israel and its allies as
terrorist states.

They also urged the government to step up support for the
Palestinians through diplomacy, including by seeking a halt to
Israel's military actions.

Among the protesters were the students of the Al Mukmin
Islamic boarding school, which is run by cleric Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir, who is serving a jail term for immigration offenses.
The U.S. has accused Ba'asyir of deep involvement in terrorist
activities.

Al Mukmin's director Wahyuddin called for solidarity among
Muslims against Israel.

"We must fight Israel as well as all of its allies across the
world, such as the United States," he said in a speech.

Separately, Bisma, the spokesman for the protesters, said the
rally was part of a series of actions to support Palestine.

He said the protesters had set up the Center for Middle East
Studies, which would hold dialogs and campaign against Israel and
the U.S., as well as collect donations for the "Islamic
struggle".

A similar rally took place in Yogyakarta, with more than 500
students and youths taking part.

The protesters were members of the Indonesian Muslim Students
United Action (KAMMI) organization, the Yogyakarta Mosque Youth
Forum, the Yogyakarta Islamic Student Network, the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS), the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Mujahidin Council, an
organization led by Ba'asyir.

Unfurling a banner reading, "Sheikh Yassin could be killed but
Islam will never been killed", the students staged their protest
in front of the Yogyakarta city council.

Apparently swept away by emotion, the protesters demanded the
expulsion of Israeli diplomats from Indonesia, despite the fact
that the two countries have no diplomatic ties.

In Surabaya, dozens of members of the Association of Muslim
Students (HMI) held a rally outside the U.S. Consulate General on
Jl. Dr. Soetomo.

They branded both the U.S. and Israel as the "real
terrorists". The protesters accused the U.S. of involvement in
the murder of Yassin.

"The U.S. is nothing more than a guard for terrorist countries
such as Israel," shouted the protesters, who demanded the
government get actively involved in what they termed "conflict
resolution" in Palestine.

About 50 protesters also staged a rally in the Central Java
capital of Semarang to express their anger over the murder of
Yassin.

Calling Israel a colonizer, the protesters also criticized the
governments of Muslim countries, particularly those in the Middle
East, which they said failed to act to protect the Palestinians.

In Jakarta, the government expressed its deep regret over the
failure of the UN to condemn the murder of Yassin following a
veto from Washington.

"We deeply regret the inability of the Security Council of the
United Nations to adopt a resolution on the murder of Hamas
leader Ahmed Yassin.

"The failure ... shows the Security Council is unable to
shoulder the responsibility that it has to maintain international
peace and security," said foreign ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa.