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Jihadists the last thing Gaza needs: Minister
Tony Hotland and Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 01/07/2009 7:32 AM | Headlines
The government maintained Tuesday its stance of refusing to send Indonesian troops to the Gaza Strip despite mounting pressure from some Islamic groups to dispatch jihadists to the besieged Middle Eastern spot.
The Foreign Ministry said sending jihadists to Gaza to help Hamas fight Israel would not improve the situation, adding there were much more effective avenues Indonesia could take to help diffuse the situation.
A number of Islamic hardline groups, including the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), have said they wish to send volunteers to Gaza under the banner of jihad and have called on the government to support them.
“Is conducting a jihad effective? We must ask Gaza if that’s what they need, and most probably they (don’t). There are other more effective ways to help ... So far, sending jihadists isn’t an option,” Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.
AFP reported Tuesday that the 11-day-old Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip had claimed the lives of at least 635 Palestinians and wounded 2,900 more.
The toll shot up Tuesday when Israeli fire hit three schools, killing at least 45 people.
Speaking in his annual statement to the press, Hassan said what Gaza needed most was medicine and medical assistance.
“We are looking at the possibility of sending medical workers to field hospitals in the Egypt area of Sinai, which borders with Gaza. We’re awaiting clearance from Egypt, and the President has instructed the health minister to collect volunteers,” Hassan said.
Despite agreeing that the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip had nothing to do with religion, Islamic groups in Jakarta have hyped up the conflict between the two religious groups, paving the way for the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and other Islamic groups to seize the momentum ahead of the April elections.
Observers on Tuesday criticized nationalist parties for not shouting down calls by Islam groups to send volunteers to the war, which was defined by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday as a clash over the sovereignty of territory between Palestine and Israel, and not a religious matter.
“The nationalist groups should be more active in voicing their stance as Indonesia’s voice will be much more strong if the (the world) considers it to represent a pluralist Indonesia rather than only Islam,” University of Indonesia international relations expert Hariyadi Wirawan said.
He said a pluralist Indonesia would attract more sympathy from major non-Muslim countries, such as members of the European Union (EU), as well as powerful human rights groups world wide that see the attacks as a territory dispute and a human rights tragedy rather than an attack against Islam.
PKS, the FPI and HTI seized the spotlight immediately after Israeli began the attacks when the groups gathered thousands of supporters in Jakarta and other big cities in the country to rally against Israel and the US.
Other political parties and nationalist groups did not take part in the rallies, and media coverage has refused to voice their stance on the conflict.
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Abu Hussain (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 4:19pm
It's been true story that dealing with Israel for long time will not take positive result for palestinian. One way out to deal with as the last choice is fight Israel by sending the Jihandists to Palestin to help our brothers there..
Right (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 3:48pm
this only goes to the 'king clipper of temasek' - you go ask your s'pore government for help. why are you bad-mouthing our president?
Brad (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 3:01pm
King Crippled was either born stupid or is just working real hard to be that way. Most fools of that ilk are usually quite proud of their perceived accomplishments.
Iain — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 2:38pm
King, why weren't your reasons for jihad used against the governments of Sudan and Russia?
David, Jakarta (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 2:33pm
Haven't the Palestinians suffered enough?
Just imagine how much more difficult their plight would be if they had to accommodate even more hungry mouths. And what, exactly, would this sudden influx of untrained, unarmed 'Jihadists' do once they got there? These people and groups are far more interested in their own celebrity than in the fate of the Palestinians. God save Gaza from them.
Bill and Ted (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 1:39pm
You're right, Jihadists are the last thing Gaza needs. They need more subservient lackeys who are willing to smile and take it, like the Mahmoud Abbas's or the "Saudi royal" families or other "kings".
King Crippler of Temasek (Singapore) (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 11:59am
It is superficial to brand the war that Hamas waged on Israel as 'non-Jihad'. Any sane person would say that such war is political and territorial as can be seen today.
The war in Palestine is not Jihad if you just look into it from one perspective only. Think about it again. The Israel stole the land from the Palestinians. What is located in Palestine? Al-Aqsa mosque. It is our duty to protect Al-Aqsa and in recent news, the Zionists have the intention to bring that mosque down. One count for Jihad.
If we join Hamas to fight for their political agenda then it is not Jihad. However, if we have the intention to fight for the Palestinians people in regaining their land and safe guard their helpless citizens, then it is Jihad. Two counts for Jihad.
If Israel went to war against Hamas and at the same time, they killed innocent Palestinians. We have to bear in mind that they have the technology and capabilities in reducing innocent casualties but they failed to do so. What does this say? They have the intention not to topple only Hamas, but also to kill innocent Palestinians. Then it is our right as Muslims to defend the innocent Palestinians in Gaza. Three counts for Jihad.
Solutions for Indonesia.
It is true that what the Palestinians need is food, medical aid and other surviving gears. This is what the Palestinians need in short term but Pak Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have to bear this in mind that to solve a problem, we can not only look for short term solutions but also long term ones. We must nip the problem in the bud. Sending TNI and Jihadists to Gaza will help to solve the problem both in the short run as well as the long run. Even after this war, the Zionist regime will still kill Palestinians. Thus, there is a need to nip the problem in the bud. Four counts for Jihad.
Pak Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, God will question you when you die. You had the power to defend right from wrong but you did not use that power. Instead, you refrain from helping and he shall punish you. You knew the wars in Gaza and West Bank are true Jihad and yet you choose to ignore it. You had the power to defend the weak through military means and yet you choose not to help.
Of course the Palestinians need medical aid and food. They too need an army to help defend them. You say you vow to kick terrorism out of Indonesia. This is the time Pak Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Send a clear message to the Indonesian terrorists that true Jihad is not in Indonesia, but in Palestine. It is haram killing innocents in Indonesia and there is not any true Jihad in Indonesia. They will heed your words and most of them will go if you encourage them to.
Remember, you can not be afraid of the US or Israel. Be afraid of Allah instead Pak Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Remember this, you have the power..
Kurniawan (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 11:45am
It was only a war of territory not religion war, so please don't take an emotion okay? All religion teachings ask us to be faithful and love each other. GBU
Callum (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 11:06am
I know many people in Indonesia who would be quite happy if the Government bought one way tickets to Gaza for all the members of the FPI, even though that would constitute dumping Indonesia's problems on the Palestian's, who have enough problems of their own. It seems to me that the problems in Palestine are not caused by a shortage of Religious zealots but by having to many.
It is rather disconcerting to see the PKS marching in lock step with these crazies, I fear for what kind of future this country would have if the PKS ever came to power. I fear that Indonesia would no longer be an example of tolerance but instead became a haven for extremists and terrorists.
Bento (not verified) — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 10:31am
Send the holy warrior troops to Gaza to claim as a jihadist,
Wow that must be a call for muslim believers to claim their prize. To be rewarded with paradise's entry and the most important to get the 700 Supermodel Virgin .
But don't be hesitate if they really believed and voluntarily to do that.
Good luck jihadist .