Yusril criticizes powerful countries

JAKARTA: Weak countries were now the targets of the imperialist ambition of powerful countries, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Thursday.

"Now, the most powerful countries in terms of weapons are willing to exercise preemptive strikes when they consider a country is unfriendly, or is posing a danger or threat to their interests," he said in a speech during a ceremony to observe International Peace Day, which fell on Sept. 21.

Yusril said he was concerned about the use of force by powerful countries "which are losing their confidence in the multilateralism of the United Nations". The use of force was a means to dominate weak countries and control their economic resources, he said. -- JP