Productive Year In Indonesia

Year-ender: Productive Year In Indonesia- Palestine Ties

Since the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) by Indonesia and Palestine on concrete cooperation in October 2007, a number of training programs have been organized for Palestinians in Indonesia.

Indonesia, as a staunch supporter of the Palestine people`s struggle , has been translating its support into action by trying to train Palestinians in various sectors as part of its capacity building assistance.

"As preparations for a Palestinian state, Palestine needs to learn how to build institutions, and the most important part in this case is preparing human resources," Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz Mehdawi said in an interview with ANTARA here recently.

In its capacity as co-chair of NAASP ( New Asian African Strategic Partnership) with South Africa, Indonesia has also coordinated capacity building programs with other ASEAN and African countries such as Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey , South Korea , Morocco , Algeria, and Nigeria.

Short and medium training courses have been attended by Palestinians among other things on diplomacy, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), tourism, industry, education, women`s empowerment, and fire brigade in Indonesia.

Around 2,000 Palestinians were trained in some Asian states, including around 200 Palestinians in Indonesia so far. Besides, 10 Palestinians are currently attending their postgraduate studies at several Indonesian universities under scholarship programs from the Ministry of Education, and other institutions such as Muhammadiyah and NU, which have pledged to offer more scholarships in their academic facilities.

Politically, Indonesia has been very active in voicing Palestine`s interests in international meetings, and both officials have frequently exchanged visits. Twelve Indonesian civilian activists had joined the humanitarian aid carrying ship Mavi Marmara last May 31, in which nine volunteers were shot dead and tens of others injured, including two Indonesians, by Israeli soldiers. The volunteers had attempted to break the Israeli blockade which has made Gaza the biggest prison on Earth.

Amid the global outrage following the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara of the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla, the Indonesian government called for redoubled efforts to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Redoubled efforts were necessary to ensure that "we speak with one voice in demanding that Israel, immediately and without delay, lift its illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, its occupation of Palestine, which has caused a deep humanitarian crisis," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in his speech at the expanded extraordinary meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Executive Committee in Jidda on June 6, 2010.

Following the Israeli assault on the flotilla, anti-Israel demonstrations condemning the attack were staged in a number of Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Bogor, and Samarinda (East Kalimantan). Indonesia fully supports the report of a UN-sanctioned independent fact-finding mission condemning the interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla for Gaza by Israel a few months ago.

One of the conclusions of the report was that the interception of the flotilla by Israel had been unlawful and the use of force by Israeli soldiers had been "unnecessary, disproportionate and excessive." Indonesia also planned to build a hospital in Gaza. "We will build a hospital in Gaza worth Rp20 billion in the hope it will increase public health facilities in Gaza," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the Merdeka Palace, last May 29, when speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with visiting President Mahmoud Abbas.

A staunch supporter of Palestine, Indonesia was also ready to give any kind of humanitarian aid needed by Palestine and to continue to contribute to the development of capacity for the establishment of a free Palestinian state as it had been doing so far through a forum of Asian-African countries, Yudhoyono said.

To follow up the plan, an Indonesian delegation consisting of among others House Speaker Marzuki Alie, a number of Indonesian members of parliament (DPR), and Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono visited Gaza on June 30. Dr. Joserizal Jurnalis, a MER-C (Medical Emergency Rescue Committee) presidium member who had visited Palestine several times to give emergency medical treatments to victims of Israeli atrocities, said some Rp15 billion has been collected from the Indonesian people to help finance the hospital.

Indonesia had earlier sent a number of ambulances, medical equipment and medicines for Gaza civilians. "Dhompet Dhuafa" (DD) national charity institution has announced its plan to build artesian wells and clean water installations for the Gazans to get clean water.

"Now the people of Gaza are suffering under the pressure of Israel. Their clean water supply comes from Israel," DD Program Director Arifin Purwakananta said in Jakarta early June. "Gaza residents are in constant fear that their clean water supply will be stopped any time by Israel or be poisoned", he said.

As for the formal bilateral ties, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had made two state visits to Indonesia within the last 3 years, first in October 2007 and the second was in May 2010. Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Chairman Jusuf Kalla (JK), former Indonesian vice president, attended the Sixth Partnership Meeting of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Bireh, Ramallah, last October 2010.

When Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad Al-Malki attended the 3rd Bali Democracy Forum in Nusa Dua (Bali Island), in early December 2010, he conveyed an invitation to his Indonesian counterpart, Minister Marty Natalegawa. "We are looking forward to Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa`s visit in Ramallah," the ambassador, who also attended the Forum, said. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is expected to visit Jakarta next year to discuss closer relations with Indonesia.

Ambassador Mehdawi expressed his appreciation that both the Indonesian government and parliament consider Palestine an important issue in the country`s agenda. Indonesia`s House of Representatives (DPR) had even established Palestine Caucus.

The envoy does not only want to see closer relations between Indonesia and Palestine, but also with the whole Arab world. "Arab ambassadors are working together to boost the relations
between Indonesia and Arab nations, opening an Arab League office in Jakarta, like the ones in New Delhi and Beijing will be a very positive step," he said.

On the sidelines of the 65th UN General Assembly last September 2010, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa initiated a meeting of four foreign ministers to form a Forum of Four in support of efforts to end the prorated Palestine-Israel conflict and to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

The forum is made up of foreign ministers from India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia which are all known as leading developing countries. So far, Indonesia had extended its support to the Palestinian people through bilateral ties, the Asia-Africa forum and the United Nations, Minister Marty said in New York last September. The initiative was also a response to the expectation made by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas at a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta last May.

On the occasion, he also said that Indonesia was disappointed with Israel for not extending the moratorium on settlement building on the West Bank Marty said the Forum of Four Developing Countries - Indonesia, Brazil, India and South Africa, would determine further steps to support Palestine and secure the peace process "From Israel`s irresponsible attitude." Ambassador Fariz Mehdawi strongly hailed the Forum of Four efforts as he emphasized the need to involve more players in the Palestinian peace process. "We need more honest and genuine players," he said.

"So far, 105 countries have recognized Palestine, and we are looking forward to see more countries to recognize our Independent State of Palestine," he said, adding that Bolivia and Ecuador recently joined Brazil and Argentine in recognizing Palestine. "The Palestinian state is coming. It`s just a matter of time, it is not if but when," Mehdawi said.