Page 258 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

Recently, I am honored to lead the mission of the Parliament of Indonesia in an official visit
to obtain the first-hand of information concerning Muslim Rohingya refugees. I was in the
southern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar where I heard from child survivors and their
families about the most horrific atrocities, committed against them including killing and
maiming, abductions, different forms of sexual violence, persecution and forced displacement.
That is the heinous ethnic cleansing and genocide against humanity.

At the recent General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), I firmly
urged both the Government and Parliament of Myanmar to immediately restore peace and
stability, and provide security and assistance to all those in need irrespective of ethnicity, race,
religion and belief. I also urged ASEAN Member States to work closely to end the displacement
and suffering of all communities affected by the escalation of violence. I further insisted that the
Government of Myanmar to implement the recommendations of the UN Advisory Commission
on Rakhine State as well as to open their country to humanitarian assistance and to be observant
to international humanitarian law in addressing the refugee crisis.

As I am here to represent the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, I emphasize
the full commitment of Indonesia to assume its responsibility to Islamic world’s causes. Our
founding fathers have envisaged the country to actively contribute in the implementation of
a world order based on freedom, lasting peace and social justice. It is also guided by Islamic
noble teachings that are embedded in the most of Indonesia people’s beliefs.

Indonesia is fully committed to stand Palestinians in their struggle. In my country, the cause of
Palestine is a shared major concern of our people regardless of their different faiths, races, as
well as political preferences. For Indonesian people, the plight of Palestine is about humanity
suffers resulting from the occupation of Israel. Our constitution explicitly stipulated, “With
independence being the right of every nation, colonialism must be eliminated from the face of the earth as
it is contrary to the dictates of human nature and justice.” In that light, any effort made for making
diplomatic relation with Israel is null and void.

Hence, I would like to echo the official statement of the Government of Indonesia at the recent
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Extraordinary Summit in Istanbul, which asked
OIC Member States to reconsider their relationship with Israel. Indonesia also urged countries
that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so. In line with that, the Parliament of
Indonesia has exerted its full support for Palestine by mainstreaming the Palestinian cause as
a crucial agenda at various parliamentary foras such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),
Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), ASEAN Inter-
Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and among others and under bilateral groups. Moreover, the
issue of Palestine is at the heart of our people. Our recent so-called “1712 rally” was the biggest
public action held to denounce the US unilateral proclamation on Jerusalem as the capital of
Zionist Israel. More than three millions protesters expressed their strong stance to stand along
with the Palestinian people.

Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia I 245