Jakarta – Dozens of interfaith leaders and politicians visited the United Nations office in Jakarta on Wednesday to pressure it to put an end to the Israeli strikes against Gaza.
They asked the UN to prove its effectiveness as an international body by ending days of attacks that have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children.
Led by Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin, the group of scholars from different religions conveyed their concerns in a written statement to UN Resident Representative El Mostafa Benlamlih.
"We come here because we still trust in the UN and we hope this organization has not become ineffective and meaningless as an international organization," Din told reporters at the UN office on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta.
The statement condemned the "Israeli aggression as a gross violation of human rights and a naked crime against humanity".
"We urge the UN to take necessary measures by issuing and enforcing a resolution to force the Israeli government to stop the brutality. We also urge the UN to impose serious sanctions on Israel," Din added.
He warned the fighting would aggravate global tensions and conflicts, thus hampering efforts to establish peace in the world.
Among those also in attendance were the Jakarta State Islamic University (UIN) rector Komarudin Hidayat, Catholic leader Benny Susetyo, Protestant leader Nathan Setiabudi and the Hindu Darma Association's A.S. Kobalen.
Senior politicians present included A.M. Fatwa, Moeryati Sudibyo, Effendy Choiry and Hamdan Zoelva, with labor union leader Mochtar Pakpahan and renowned dangdut singer Rhoma Irama also making an appearance.
"We are so sad about what's happening in Palestine, especially to women and children. We hope the UN will do something and not just watch and smile, "Kobalen said.
Benlamlih promised to convey the statement to the UN headquarters in New York. He said what was going on in Palestine was not a religious issue, but rather a conflict between the strong and the weak, with both sides seeking justice and peace.
"We do agree with you that there is a lot of frustration about the way the UN is working. We still have to use the existing UN mechanism to achieve peace, "he said.
He added said the UN Security Council was working hard to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict with support from European nations.
"The UN is not a superpower and is not a super government. We are just a forum," he said. "We maintain dialogs and put pressure on [attaining] peace."
The attacks that began on Dec. 27 have drawn daily protests worldwide. In Jakarta, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Wednesday called for a boycott of US products because of "American double standards" over the Israeli military strikes on Palestine.
"I think a boycott of US products could serve as a lesson to the superpower for the double standards it applies," MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said as quoted by Antara news service.
Former UIN rector Azyumardi Azrasaid such a boycott would not be effective and would only make hurt Indonesians.
"We have only a few American products here, mostly Indonesian-owned fast-food restaurants that are franchises. The employees are also Indonesian," he said.
In Surabaya, the MUI's East Java office and several mass organizations sealed off a Jewish house of worship. "The sealing off of the synagogue is in response to the Israeli attacks, because people here are so angry. Azyumardi said. (naf)