National

Indonesia Continues Support for Freedom of Palestine
Friday, 12 November, 2004 | 22:04 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to pay a last tribute to the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Yudhoyono had left for Cairo, Egypt, where Arafat’s body has been taken before being buried in Ramallah, Palestine.

Indonesian ad interim foreign minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that President Yudhoyono and his delegation members were scheduled to leave Indonesia to Cairo on Thursday night (11/11) at 11 pm and arrive in the city on Friday morning (12/11) local time.

“On Saturday morning, the president is scheduled to arrive back in Indonesia,” said Mahendra, who replaced Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda temporarily because Wirajuda was still in Myanmar for the preparation of the ASEAN Summit.

According to Mahendra, the president, representing the government and people of Indonesia, has expressed his condolences to the people of Palestine and Arafat’s family.

“Yasser Arafat is the symbol of Palestinian people’s struggle in obtaining their justice and freedom,” he said.

Mahendra added that President Arafat had been a figure loved by Palestinians and other nations, including Indonesia.

He went on to say that Indonesia expected to see Arafat’s death as a new momentum in the fight for the freedom, peace and welfare of Palestinians.

Based on the opening of the 1945 Constitution, continued Mahendra, Indonesia has stated its solidarity and support to Palestinians in fighting for their freedom and lasting peace in the territory of Palestine. (Sapto Pradityo/Mawar Kusuma/Bdariah/Faisal-Koran Tempo)