People's Democratic Party (Indonesia) condemns Israel's military attack on humanitarian worker

Central Executive Committee, Democratic People's Party (KPP-PRD), Jakarta

June 1, 2010 -- The People's Democratic Party (PRD) strongly condemns [yesterday's] Israeli military action against volunteers delivering aid to the Gaza Strip. As a result of its dishonourable action, at least 19 people have been declared dead and 50 others injured.

Humanitarian volunteers from various countries, approximately 700 activists, were sailing and transporting 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip, because this area, owned by Palestinians, has been blockaded by the Israeli military.

This cannot be tolerated, whatever the claims of Israeli defence officials. Moreover, the Israeli military has a track record of repeated crimes against the Palestinian and international civil society.

We are also aware that the political policies of Israel share the interests of global imperialism commanded by the United States of America. Israel has long been disrupting world peace, because it does not accept the political sovereignty of the Palestinian people.

The US itself, which has not reacted strongly against today's crime, has become an important ally of Israeli war machine in the Middle East. Note that, every year, the US gives US$4 billion in aid to strengthen the capacity of the Israeli military. That means, that the US has been a proponent of Israel's aggressive wars and other crimes.

We demand there should be no more casualties in this incident. As a follow up, we ask the UN to immediately intervene to stop the evil actions of the Israeli military. We also demand that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and senior Israeli military officials, should be tried in an international human rights court.

These are the main points of our stance:

1. Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must issue an official statement condemning Israeli military action against human volunteers.
2. Israel must immediately stop the action of blockade and withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip, as well as begin to appreciate the sovereignty of the Palestinian people.
3. The UN Security Council should immediately hold an emergency session and consider the weight to Israeli sanctions.
4. The US should immediately stop military aid to Israel and implement an arms embargo on Israel.
5. We call upon all in the international community to go to Israel's embassies and consulates to protest Israel's latest crime.

[Translation by Peter Boyle.]