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Indonesia calls for Permanent Ceasefire in Middle East


Monday August 14, 2006

On Friday, 11 August, the UN Security Council finally succeeded to unanimously agree on, and issue Resolution No. 1701 on a permanent Cease fire between and . Accepted by all 15 members of the Security Council, the Resolution was proposed by France and the United States. 

In the original text of Resolution 1701 as published in the Jerusalem Post, the UN considers that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and therefore, calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations; 

Furthermore the UN Resolution “reiterates its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949”; 

The UN, therefore, calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the authority of the Government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours, and calls on it also to consider further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Lebanon; 

Acting in support of a request from the government of Lebanon the UN will deploy an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory, and therefore, authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence; 

Consequent to the above decision, the UN decided to supplement and enhance UNIFIL force in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operations, and authorized an increase in the force strength of UNIFIL to a maximum of 15,000 troops, and that the force shall, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426 (1978): 

a
. Monitor the cessation of hostilities; 

b. Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon as provided in paragraph 2; 

c. Coordinate its activities related to paragraph 11 (b) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel; 

d. Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; 

e. Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment of the area as referred to in paragraph 8; 

f. Assist the government of
, at its request, to implement paragraph 14; 

The UN Security Council further requests the Secretary General to urgently put in place measures to ensure UNIFIL is able to carry out the functions envisaged in this resolution, and urges Member States to consider making appropriate contributions to UNIFIL and to respond positively to requests for assistance from the Force, and expresses its strong appreciation to those who have contributed to UNIFIL in the past; 


The Resolution further decided that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft (in Lebanon
). 

Hereupon, extend the mandate of UNIFIL until
31 August 2007, and expresses its intention to consider in a later resolution further enhancements to the mandate and other steps to contribute to the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution; 

Finally, the UN Security Council stressed the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East

Although both
and have agreed to the Resolution, yet all through the weekend bombs and military operations continued unabated. According to latest Television reports, Secretary General Kofi Annan confirmed that actual cease fire will commence Monday, 14 August, at 05.00 GMT or 12.00 noon Jakarta time.  

Indonesia plays active role in Middle East Peace Talks
 

Some ten days earlier, on 3 August, in an emergency meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in
Kuala Lumpur, , President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged member nations of OIC to play a prominent role in the United Nations-led international peacekeeping force that may eventually be deployed in southern Lebanon.

Noting that a comprehensive ceasefire could be achieved within the week, the President said the OIC's participation would help ensure proper care for tens of thousands of traumatized Lebanese civilians. 

"I do think that a substantial part of the peacekeeping force must come from OIC countries. Thus, the OIC can also have a role in formulating the rules of engagement, and terms of reference," he told delegates from 18 countries during an emergency meeting of the OIC in
Kuala Lumpur , reported ’s Trade and Investment News. 

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Dr. Yudhoyono said that the rules of engagement and terms of reference for deployment of the peacekeeping force could not be designated to one or two countries. "We fear that troops from the countries will not be fair and evade making constructive engagement," he said. 

Delegates from the 18-member OIC urged a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire between the warring parties in
. They also backed the Lebanese government's plea for the enforcement of an agreement reached in Rome .

As part of the commitment agreed in the joint declaration, member countries pledged to do their utmost to end the violence within the coming week. 

"We hope that at least within the next one week, there will be a global effort spearheaded by the UN to save our brothers and sisters from the war," Dr. Yudhoyono said. 

Apart from supplying $1 million in humanitarian aid to the Lebanese people, the Indonesian government has also committed a 600-man force to join a future peacekeeping force. 

Meanwhile, on the sideline of the OIC Conference in
Malayia, ’s Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirayuda, was reported to have remarked to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Kuala Lumpur that 's support for 's military attacks on was making it difficult for Muslim countries to counter Islamic radicalization. “If the allows to continue "attacking, burning and killing Lebanese (people), it will create difficulties for moderate countries that have Muslim populations," spokesman Desra Percaya quoted the minister as having remarked to Rice. 

"Seeing such situations, even for moderate Muslims, they could become radical, and will do anything to stop Israeli attacks," he said.  Rice responded that she was aware of the problem and "promised to create a sustainable ceasefire" in the
Middle East . 

In Indonesia
, meantime, Police vowed to prevent hard line groups from leaving for to join a declared jihad against Israel, reported the Jakarta Post.

"We will stop them if they want to go to war," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said. He said that the action would only worsen the situation in
. "Their departure for the Middle East would be a violation of our state Constitution, which says that should pro-actively contribute to world peace," he was quoted as saying by AFP. 

Today,
is ready to send 850 military personnel to join UNIFIL peace keeping force. The troops were personally inspected by President Yudhoyono on Friday,11 August. 
(Sources: UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Kompas, Jakarta Post, Metro TV, ’s Trade and Investment News).                                                   (Tuti Sunario)