INDONESIA COMMEMORATES IT’L SOLIDARITY DAY FOR PALESTINE
Jakarta, 7 Safar 1436/30 November 2014 (MINA) – Indonesia through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar and photo exhbition in commemoration of the international solidarity day for Palestine on November 29.
The event was aimed at unwavering Indonesia support for the independence of Palestine.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on her speech stressed Indonesia’s support for the only one occupied teritory in the world.
“Perhaps, no international issue which more important to Indonesia, and closer to our hearts than Palestine,” Retno said at the opening ceremony of the event, Friday.
Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz Mehdawi, the UN representative in Indonesia Douglas Broderick and ambassadors from other countries attended the event as part of their support for the Palestinian struggle.
The seminar entitled “Unwavering Support of Indonesia to Palestine, and the Role of The United Nations” was also attended by representatives of Indonesian scholars and students from various universities.
Meanwhile, the photo exhibition presented Indonesian photo archive related to the Palestinian, such as photo of Indonesian leaders with Yaser Arafat in the 90s, as well as Indonesian hospital building in Gaza Strip which was currently finished by Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C).
Indonesia-Palestine bound relation
During her speech, Retno noted Indonesia-Palestine relation goes way back since the birth of the country’s freedom on August 17, 1945.
“Grand Mufti of Palestine, Sheikh Muhammad Amin Al-Husaini seven decades ago had clearly spoken his support for Indonesian independence and has encouraged leaders in the Middle East to recognize us,” she stressed.
The Grand Mufti, she continued, also attended the Asia –Africa Conference in Bandung in April 1955. “It become our reprehensible that Palestine is the only participant of the conference which has not yet attain its independence,” she added.
Indonesia was among the first countries to recognize the state of Palestine, not long after declaration of its independence on 15 November 1988.
“We are please to have Embassy of the Palestine here in Jakarta since so many years ago. On its part, an honorary consulate will be established soon in Ramallah, Palestine,” she said.
The first woman Indonesia foreign minister called for an end of Israeli occupation and settlements in the occupied land.
“These policies of Israel are clearly violations of international and human rights law,” she stressed.
She added, Indonesia will therefore continue to join international community to bring the Israel occupation to an end.(L/R04/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
