NGOS CONDEMN ATTACK, CALL FOR STRONGER ACTION AGAINST ISRAEL

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- Several non-governmental organisations
Tuesday condemned in the strongest terms the attack by Israeli force on the Gaza
humanitarian aid flotilla and called for stern actions against the regime.

The Malaysian Youth Council said the action was atrocious and went beyond
universal humanitarian values.

Its secretary-general Mohd Zaidi Aziz said the attack showed that Israel had
no respect whatsoever for international laws.

"The time has come for the United Nations to act more aggressively to
protect innocent lives and stop this atrocities," he said in a statement.

The council also called on world major powers led by the United States to
act and put pressure on Israel and no longer adopt a soft stand against the
regime.

Transport Workers Union secretary-general Zainal Rampak said the Israeli
raid on the humanitarian flotilla was inhuman.

"Israel is resorting to violent actions to prevent other international
humanitarian missions from going Gaza to deliver aid to the displaced people
there," he said when contacted.

He also called on the international community, in particular the UN and
worker's unions throughout the world, including the International Labour
Organisation, to take sterner actions against Israel.

"It's no longer enough to condemn. There should be a worldwide movement to
boycott Israel in all aspects, be it political, social or in terms of
humanitarian. It must be cast away from the world community," he said.

Former Mara Junior Science College Alumni Association also condemned Israel
and
"all countries which are in cahoots with the regime and which supported the
inhumane act."

Its deputy president Nasri Nasron said that if the incident was not
enough to open the eyes of the UN on Israel's cruelty, then the world body had
no business to talk about world peace.

"Israel's allies should not act as if they are the world police or human
rights champions," he said.

He also called on the Malaysian government to play a more active role in
dealing with the atrocities committed against Palestinians.

Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) president Zaid Kamaruddin said Israel's atrocity
was unforgivable.

"I call on the international community to take steps and work to dismantle
all blockades in the Gaza Strip," he said.

He also said that JIM would continue sending aid to the people of Gaza and
urged Malaysians to continue supporting the initiative.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council is deeply concerned over the welfare of those
onboard the ill-fated ship, saying such flagrant hostility is deplorable,
particularly as it was perpetrated in a deliberate and unprovoked assault on a
peaceful initiative, and in international waters.

Its president Ragunath Kesavan said the degree of force employed was
excessive
and unwarranted, given the nature of the non-violent humanitarian effort
involving civilians.

"The vicious attack is but a symptom of the long-standing and bitter
conflict
in the region that has resulted in crime against humanity, as innumerable
atrocities have been committed upon the people of Palestine," he said in a
statement.

In order to resolve the discord, he said, the wider issues must be addressed
urgently especially on lifting "the pitiless, inhumane and counter-productive
blockade of Gaza."

Meanwhile, Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) vice-president Khairul
Faiz
Morat said the disproportionate use of force in international waters confirmed
that Israel was an anti-humanity and anti-peace nation.

He said Abim wanted the government to take all the necessary actions, either
bilateral or unilateral, to ensure the safety of Malaysians on board the ship
and to demand the release of all of them.

The UN should also condemn the attack and to take all the necessary actions
required to end the hostility by Israel towards the six-ship flotilla on aid
mission to Gaza, he said in a statement.

-- BERNAMA