VP urges OIC to be firmer on U.S. strikes

VP urges OIC to be firmer on U.S. strikes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz called on the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) on Friday to pressure the United States and its
allies to end their military operations in Afghanistan before the
fasting month of Ramadhan begins mid-November.

"We appeal to OIC to take a new stance similar to that of
Indonesia's position, namely demand an end to military operations
before the month of Ramadhan starts," Hamzah said before Muslims
at a mosque in East Jakarta on Friday.

Ramadhan, Islam's holiest month, starts on Nov. 16.

Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) chairman Amidhan, however, has
called on the United States and its allies to stop their military
campaign in Afghanistan immediately without waiting for Ramadhan
to arrive.

"We urge the U.S. to stop its invasion of Afghanistan now. Do
not wait until Ramadhan," Amidhan said.

If the U.S. insists on continuing its assault during Ramadhan,
it will deepen anti-U.S. sentiments in Muslim countries and could
create stronger solidarity among Muslims, he said.

This solidarity could be expressed in various ways, for
instance, through humanitarian aid to the Afghans or more
pressure on the United Nations to prevent further U.S.
aggression, Amidhan said.

OIC member countries have not criticized the U.S.-led strikes
on Afghanistan, but have expressed concern that the operations
could cause victims among innocent civilians.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri indirectly criticized
Washington for the air strikes on Afghanistan by saying it was
unacceptable that anyone, a group or a government, attack people
or another country for whatever reason.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda also warned the
U.S. that Muslims all over the world may react more explosively
if its military operations in Afghanistan did not stop during
Ramadhan.

The Vice President said he hoped OIC would take a new stance
after its representatives visited Afghanistan in the near future
to directly observe the situation in the country after the U.S.
military attacks.

Hamzah said Indonesia's stance on the U.S. attacks was
stronger than that of OIC member countries, stressing that the
position expressed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri during the
commemoration of the Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad two weeks
ago already accommodated the aspirations of Indonesian Muslims.

He also stressed the need for all parties, including Muslims
who account for 85 percent of the country's 213 million
population, to take part in overcoming the prolonged economic
crisis that has seen millions of people lose their jobs.

"Indonesia is facing a large number of problems which need to
be resolved immediately. Don't wait until the ship sinks," Hamzah
said.

Hamzah, who is chairman of the United Development Party (PPP),
also urged Indonesian Muslims to leave it to the government on
how to respond to the U.S. military attacks in Afghanistan, a
war-stricken country accused by the U.S. of harboring chief the
suspect of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, Osama
bin Laden.

He also urged Indonesian Muslims not to hold anti-U.S. rallies
so as to avoid clashes with police officers.

"I do not want to see Muslims clash with security officers,"
Hamzah said, adding that he had met with Habib Rizieq, leader of
the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) whose followers clashed with
police personnel in a recent demonstration.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell warmly praised
President Megawati on Thursday for safeguarding the lives of U.S.
citizens in the country, despite radical group anger at
Washington's strikes on Afghanistan.

Powell said he had met Megawati in Shanghai on the sidelines
of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum last week and
thanked her for taking care of U.S. diplomatic premises and the
security of U.S. personnel.

"The situation was a little volatile there and our people were
being put at risk," Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations
committee, AFP reported.

"Our people are feeling much safer than they were three weeks
ago."

Since the U.S. and Britain launched attacks on Afghanistan on
Oct. 7 there have been near-daily protests in several cities in
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.

The demonstrations have been accompanied by as-yet-unrealized
threats from small but vocal hard-line groups to target
Americans, and to expel them from the country and by demands for
a boycott of U.S. products.