"In line with the mandate of the Constitution, Indonesia strongly condemns the colonization of Palestine by Israel, and fully supports the independence of Palestine," Taufiq Kiemas said when officially opening a Conference of Asia-Pacific Community for Palestine being held here on June 29 and 30, 2011.
The conference, themed "Striving to Fulfill the Rights of Palestinian People", was also in accordance with the spirit of Bung Karno (Indonesian First President Soekarno) to liberate Asian and African nations declared at the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955, the MPR chief said.
The conference is being attended by around 200 representatives of social organizations and NGOs from 30 countries.
The meeting is organized by the National Committee for Palestinian People (KNRP), and the Indonesian Parliament`s Caucus for Palestine.
Chairman of KNRP Soeripto said Indonesia has done many things to help the fight for the rights of the Palestinian people, among other things by signing a petition by hundreds of Indonesian legislators to demand the release of Palestinian members of parliament jailed by Israel.
"The petition has been sent to the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) forum and the United Nations General Assembly," Soeripto said.
Among speakers of the conference are Hamzah Thayeb (Indonesian foreign affairs ministry), Osamah Hamdan (Lebanon), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim (Malaysia), George Galloway (Viva Palestine/UK) and Coordinator of the Indonesian Parliament`s Caucus for Palestine Al Muzammil Yusuf.
The conference is conducted with the objectives of, among other things, building awareness of the current situation in Palestine and Al-Quds, and to present constructive ideas and proposals for Palestinian independence roadmap. ***6***
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Editor: Priyambodo RH
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