INDONESIA JOINS GLOBAL OUTRAGE AGAINST PARIS ATTACK by Fardah

    Jakarta, Jan 9, 2015 (Antara) - The Indonesian government, legislators, and ulemas have joined global outrage against Wednesday's (Jan 7) deadly attack on the Paris office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people, including its editor and cartoonists.

         "Indonesia strongly condemns the attack. Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said when delivering her first annual press statement in Jakarta on January 8, 2015.

          The Indonesian government never condones any kind of violence and will support the French government's efforts to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the minister stated.

        "No form of violence can be accepted. Indonesia supports the efforts of France's authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice," she added.

        Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) is well-known for courting controversies with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders of all faiths and has published numerous cartoons ridiculing Prophet Mohammad.

         In Islamic teachings, it is blasphemous to create pictures of the Prophet.

        Wednesday's attack on Charlie Hebdo was reportedly perpetrated by two brothers a third person. All three are allegedly part of an Islamic fundamentalist group.

        Besides the foreign affairs minister, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has also expressed concern over the Paris attack.

         "The Indonesian government condemns the attack. Such acts cannot be justified," Kalla said.

          Such attempts in any form and anywhere, including in Indonesia, should be rejected, he noted.

          Kalla cautioned that Indonesian citizens must take notice of the incident because it can happen anywhere.

          Earlier, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also condemned the killing of 12 people, including two policemen, in Paris.

          "MUI condemns the killing of the members of the media in France as it is against humanitarian and Islamic values," Chairman of MUI's Foreign Affairs and International Relations Muhyidin Junaidi stated in Jakarta on January 8, 2015.

         He remarked that the perpetrators of the deadly attack did not represent the Muslim community, although they reportedly recited "Allahu akbar" before firing.

         "We object to the content of Charlie Hebdo, even though they are published on the basis of the freedom of expression. But it was not right to protest against the content of the French satirical weekly by murdering people. Their action goes against Islamic values because protests should be registered within the realm of law," he explained.

         "Islam propagates the limits of expression, especially about the Prophet," he noted.

        "We hope the international community will not generalize the attack as part of Islam. We fear it will lead to more intense anti-Muslim sentiments," he said.

         He remarked that his fear has been based on the incidents of discrimination in numerous countries, such as Germany, Sweden, and Bulgaria that have seen arson attacks on mosques.

          Indonesian lawmaker Saleh Partaonan Daulay also shared similar concerns following the attack.

          "The shooting is worth condemning because the action deviates far from the teachings and values of Islam," Daulay pointed out.

         Describing the attack as a criminal act, the central executive board chairman of the National Mandate Party expressed hope that similar incidents will not happen in the future.

         "The followers of all religions certainly promote love and peace and strongly condemn the shooting attack,"  Daulay, the chairman of the Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, said, adding the attack went against the values of humanity and defamed Islam.

         He noted that in the Muslim holy book of Qur'an, the acts of violence and killing are disapproved.

        Following the attack, the Indonesian government has appealed to its citizens in France to avoid all public centers of activities and contact the embassy in Paris or the consulate general in Marseille for any help.

        Earlier, the Indonesian Embassy in France confirmed that no Indonesian nationals were injured or killed in the attack.

         However, the Embassy has urged Indonesian citizens in the country, particularly parents, to remain cautious and monitor their children visiting houses of worship, tourism spots, shopping centers, and other public places.

         Political Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in France Minister Consular Arifi Saiman told Antara here on Wednesday evening that the Embassy in Paris has provided emergency hot lines: +33(0)145030760 (fixed line) and +33(0)621122109 (mobile) offering round-the-clock service.

          Since the French government has declared the highest security threat status for Ile-de-France (Paris and its surrounding areas), the Embassy has also suggested that Indonesian citizens should avoid visiting Elysees and the surrounding areas.

           The Indonesian embassy in Paris has also asked Indonesian students or tourists in France to remain alert and watchful.   ***2***
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