Muslim Indonesia March Backs Palestinians

07/05/2006| IslamWeb

More than 10,000 Indonesians have marched in Jakarta in support of the Palestinians and in protest at US and EU decisions to cut aid following the election of Hamas.

The marchers waved Palestinian flags and banners and collected donations on Sunday.

Others held banners with slogans such as: "Stop the embargo, save Palestine" and "One man, one dollar for Palestine."

"We voice protest against the US and Europe," Tifatul Sembiring, the PKS president, said in a speech at the Jakarta rally.

"They must revoke then ban because thousands of Palestinians are on the brink of famine."

The US and EU have both cut off direct financial aid for the Palestinian Authority after Hamas democratically won in Palestinian elections earlier this year, demanding that Hamas renounce the armed struggle and recognise Israel.

Hamas has refused and in the ensuing financial crisis more than 165,000 government workers have not been paid for the past two months.

Smaller pro-Palestinian rallies were also held in major towns and cities across Indonesia.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Jakarta city bus makes its way through a crowd of tens of thousands of Indonesians protesting against western countries' treatment of the Hamas-led Palestinian government Sunday, May 7, 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Reuters)