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.