INDONESIA REITERATES SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE'S BID FOR INDEPENDENCE By Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 29, 2015 (Antara) -- Palestine is always mentioned in every state of the nation address delivered by Indonesia's President to commemorate Indonesia's Independence anniversary celebrated on August 17.

        In his state of the nation address delivered at the Parliament Building on August 14, President Joko Widodo reiterated the country's support for Palestine's independence.

        "Indonesia continues to support Palestinian independence from colonialism and injustice, and urges its Muslim brothers in the Middle East to make peace for the sake of the ukhuwah Islamiyah (Islamic brotherhood)," the head of state noted.

        The support for Palestinian independence is in accordance with Indonesia's 1945 Constitution that mandates the nation to "contribute to the implementation of a world order based on freedom, lasting peace and social justice."
   The Preamble of the Indonesian Constitution among other things states, "Whereas independence is the inalienable right of all nations, and therefore, colonialism in the world must be abolished, because it is not in accordance with humanity and justice."

   The occupation of Palestine by Israeli Zionists and the suffering of the Palestinian people was accorded special attention during the 60th Commemoration of the Asian and African Conference (AAC) and the 10th Anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) hosted by Indonesia in Bandung, West Java, in April.

        The commemorative conference had issued a Declaration on Palestine containing 15 points expressing strong support for the independence of Palestine and was ready to assist in the development of human resources and institutional capacity for the Palestinians.

        The conference also condemned Israel's occupation, deplored Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip in 2014 that killed thousands of women and children, supported the reconstruction of Gaza, and urged all Asian and African countries to recognize the Palestinian state.

        "We deplore the fact that 60 years after the Bandung conference, the Palestinian people have remain deprived of their rights, freedom and independence, and that millions of Palestinians are still living under occupation and as refugees, and that this history of injustice still continues," the Declaration stated. 
   The Asia-Africa Conference (ACC) was first organized in Bandung, West Java, from April 18 to 24, 1955, at the behest of Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, and Pakistan.

        It was seen as a symbol of freeing countries from colonialism, and as a symbol of resurgence for the Asian and African nations.

        Since then, all countries have been freed and gained their independence except Palestine.

        Israeli Zionists has illegally occupied Palestine for the past 68 years with the support of its main ally, the United States, and some other western countries, such as Great Britain, Canada, France, Australia, and Germany.

        More than the government, the Indonesian people are very much concerned about the fate of the Palestinians currently under Israeli occupation.

        To express their sympathy and care, an Indonesian NGO called the National Committee for Palestinian People (KNRP) will send sacrificial animals consisting of one thousand goats and 150 cows, to the Palestinians to celebrate the Eid al-Adha 1436 Hijri.

        "The success of the `Sacrifice for Palestine' (Q4P) programs in 2012 and 2014 has convinced KNRP to continue with the flagship program in 2015," the Chief Executive of KNRP, Agus Suharyadi, said in a press release recently.

        "In 2012, we delivered 200 goats, which were slaughtered and distributed in the Gaza Strip. In 2014, there were about 300 goats slaughtered in Lucknow, India, and distributed among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan," Suharyadi said.

        He said the program was aimed at sharing happiness in welcoming the Eid al-Adha with the Palestinian people, who have been undergoing difficulties due to Israeli occupation and military attacks.

        "The Israeli colonials have destroyed the Palestinian people's livestock many times," Suharyadi said.

        The KNRP team of volunteers in collaboration with humanitarian agency Thariqul Hayat, will carry out the sacrificial slaughtering in Al-Quds city's Al-Aqsa mosque complex, on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from September 24 to 27.

        During the fasting month of Ramadhan, MER-C Indonesia had distributed one thousand food packages and 500 ifthr (fast breaking meal) packages among the people of Gaza, mostly orphans. 
   Indonesian volunteers had also deployed four big buses to carry the orphans to the Indonesian Hospital in Bayt Lahiya, Gaza Strip, to present the ifthar packages in July.

        The volunteers are currently in Gaza to prepare for the grand opening of a hospital built with the funds collected from the Indonesian people, Dr. Henry Hidayatullah, Chairman of the Presidium of MER-C, said.

        The establishment of the hospital was first proposed in 2009, following brutal Israeli military aggression in Palestine that had killed and injured thousands of civilians, particularly women and children, in Gaza between late 2008 and January 2009.

        MER-C Indonesia has been very active in sending medical personnel and supplies to help injured civilians in Gaza, which has frequently been the target of brutal Israeli military strikes.    
   In July and August 2014, over 51 days of fierce bombardment by air, land and sea by Israeli military,  more than 2,147 Palestinians were killed, including 578 children, 489 women and 102 elderly persons.

        More than one thousand Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip sustained permanent disabilities during last year's Israeli military onslaught, according to Defense for Children International (DCI), an NGO devoted to children's rights. 
   Israeli forces had arrested nearly three thousand Palestinian children from the beginning of 2010 till mid-2014, the majority of whom were between the ages of 12 and 15 years. At least 700 Palestinian children are arrested every year by Israeli occupiers.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/Suharto) 29-08-2015 20:56:47