Issues of the day: SBY questions UN’s efforts

Paper Edition | Page: 8

July 20, p 1

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono questioned the effectiveness of the UN’s efforts in stopping the 16-month conflict in Syria, which has claimed thousands of lives, and called on the world body to send peacemaking troops to get the situation under control.

On Thursday, Russia and China for the third time vetoed a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution that threatened Syrian authorities with sanctions if they did not stop using heavy weapons against the uprising and withdraw troops from towns and cities.

The vetoed resolution, which would have extended a UN observer mission to Syria for 45 days, received 11 votes in favor, with two abstentions.

The 15-member council still has time to negotiate another resolution on the fate of the unarmed mission before its initial 90-day mandate expires at midnight (0400 GMT) on Friday, Reuters reported.

Your comments:

Perhaps SBY could lead by example and put pressure on China and Russia, as the problem lies with those two countries. He could also propose that ASEAN do likewise.

Walter John Gomm

The civil war in Syria, started when the people asked for freedom and justice.

The regime headed by Assad, the dictator son of a dictator father, won’t listen to what people want. He, his generals, close family and friends prefer to keep their privileges despite the mass demonstrations.

No wonder the regime is supported by China and Russia, two countries which have never respected democracy and freedom of speech.

The Arab world asked the regime to give the people of Syria their freedom, but Assad & Co won’t listen
at all.

Today, the world can see UN is helpless. Politicians talk while hundreds of Syrians die every day. The victims have reached tens of thousands, dead, massacred or fled from their homeland.

Widya Utama

SBY send your troops to ports throughout Indonesia and stop this business of people smuggling.

There are hundreds of people dying from inaction by the Indonesian government which allows government officials and smugglers to continue mass murder of these illegal migrants sent in leaky boats to Australia.

Which one is worse, mass murder of illegal migrants in Indonesian waters or the killings in Syria?

SBY, do a good deed for Ramadhan and stop the poor illegal migrants from dying.

Baz Act

Let SBY first stop the actions of the mass organizations (like FPI etc.) against the minority groups before he comments on other countries or institutions. He has still a lot to do in Indonesia on this matter.

Antonius PH
Mulders

Maybe he should resolve Indonesia’s problems before advising the UN? They would be much more
impressed.

Sheldon Archer