REITERATING NAM'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 17, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia has been consistently voicing its support to the Palestinian people in their struggle against occupation by Israeli Zionist regime over the past 68 years.

         Having experienced what it means being colonized by foreign forces, Indonesia, which gained independence in August 1945, has always been against colonialism. It, therefore, has been calling for international solidarity with Palestine at various regional and international meetings.

         Speaking during a ministerial level meeting of the Palestine Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held in Venezuela, on Sept. 16, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi reiterated a call to every NAM member country to continue to support the Palestinian people until Palestine becomes a sovereign nation with East Jerusalem as its capital.

          The minister particularly appealed to NAM members, who have not yet recognized the Palestinian state, to accord their full recognition soon.

          She also emphasized the importance of NAM member countries' support for the resumption of the Palestinian peace process.

           The Indonesian government fully supports the French government's initiative to reopen the peace talks.

           Indonesia was one of the 28 countries that participated in the Paris Meeting held in June 2016.

          Besides, stronger international pressure is needed to stop Israel from committing further violence and human rights violations against the Palestinian people.

          Israel must also stop construction of illegal resettlements in occupied Palestinian land.

           The minister even believed that Israel must not be allowed to derive economic benefits from the occupied territory.

          Organized prior to the 17th Summit of NAM from September 17-18, the meeting on Palestine was attended by ministers from Indonesia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Palestine, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

         During a bilateral meeting between Minister Marsudi and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki in Venezuela, on Sept. 15, Al Maliki once again acknowledged the continuing contribution and support that Indonesia has been extending for the Palestinian independence.

          At the meeting, the two ministers discussed the importance of international support for the Palestinian struggle.

          "Indonesia has been and will be consistently bringing the issue of Palestinian independence to the attention of various meetings so that it receives international attention and support," Retno Marsudi said.

           Support for the Palestinians not only comes from the government but also from all sections of the Indonesian people, who have donated money for the construction of Indonesia Hospital in Gaza.   
     Palestine has always been a topic under discussion at NAM meetings. The 16th NAM Ministerial Meeting in Bali in May 2011 had also reaffirmed support for an independent state of Palestine.

          The NAM meeting, which also marked the 50th anniversary of the movement, adopted the "Bali Commemorative Declaration," that included Palestine.   
    NAM member states said they would remain at the forefront of support for the Palestinian people to realize freedom, peace and justice, in line with the long-standing international consensus recognizing the Palestinian people as a nation. 
     With 120 member states, NAM is the second largest international body after the United Nations. It has 53 members from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean, 17 observer countries and 10 observer organizations.

        Vice President Jusuf Kalla leads Indonesia's delegation to the 17th NAM Summit, themed, "Peace, Sovereignty and Solidarity for Development," being held on the Margarita Island, Venezuela.

          Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said Venezuela is honored to assume the organization's rotating presidency for the next three years, taking over from Iran during the summit, TeleSUR reported.

         Emancipation, anti-imperialism and peace define the 17th NAM Summit. 
   With the slogan "United on the Path for Peace," Venezuela has ratified the defense of the right of the people of the world to fight for peace and sovereignty, said Minister Rodriguez.

        Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, for his part, said he will propose a transformation of the Non-Aligned Movement into an international organization that defiantly says "no" to the new colonialism.

         Established in 1961, during the Cold War era, the NAM members had decided not to align with either the US Block or Russia.

        Josep Broz Tito of then Yugoslavia, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia and Kwame Nkruma of Ghana were among the founders of NAM.

        In fact, NAM had done more than just avoiding or surviving the Cold War, as it helped shape the world order, contained the spread of conflicts, and preserved and expanded peace where it could.

         Furthermore, NAM has also successfully advanced decolonization by supporting the struggle of nations for liberation and self-determination, and effectively helped in ending apartheid.

        During the 17th NAM Summit, world leaders are committed to reach agreements for the promotion and defense of world peace, one of the fundamental principles of the movement. ***2***
(f001/INE)
 17-09-2016 22:09:07