ISRAEL`S BRUTALITY LAID BARE BY RAID ON AID SHIP, SAYS MALAYSIAN FM

From Muin Abdul Majid

AMMAN, June 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman
said the storming by Israel of the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid vessel with
Malaysian and other volunteers on board has truly opened the eyes of the world
to the brutality of the Israeli regime.

He said some people in Europe, for example, might not have been too
sympathetic over the plight of the Palestinians but Monday's deadly pre-dawn
attack had "opened their eyes, ears and minds".

"We truly hope that this will eventually lead to a better future for the
people in Gaza and Palestinians as a whole," he said in praising the 12
Malaysian volunteers for their courage.

Anifah said this at a gathering with the volunteers, freed by Israeli
authorities Wednesday morning, soon after his arrival in Amman.

The event was marked by a telephone conversation between the minister and
the leader of the group, Noor Azman Muhamad Samsuddin, and Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak, who is in Laos on an official visit.

Noor Azman could be heard briefly telling Najib about what transpired during
the dramatic Israeli assault, and thanking the Malaysian government for its
effort in securing the release of the 12 volunteers.

Anifah is in Amman to thank the government of Jordan for its assistance in
the safe passage of the group out of Israel, which had detained them along with
hundreds seized in the attack, and to meet with the Malaysians.

During the gathering held at the residence of Malaysian ambassador to Abdul
Malek Abdul Aziz, a prayer was recited in gratitude for their
freedom as well as for those killed during the raid by Israeli forces on the
Turkish ship "Mavi Marmara" in international waters.

At least 10 people were reported to have lost their lives in the incident
which had sparked condemnation from countries around the world, including
Malaysia.

"As a Malaysian and foreign minister, I'm truly proud that Malaysians are
involved in a concerted international action to break the blockade imposed on
Gaza by the zionist regime for the past three years," Anifah said.


On behalf of the group, Noor Azman recounted Monday's attack to those
present, saying that Israel's version of events was pure fabrication.

He also dismissed Israel's assertion that those on board the ship were
bent on violence.

"How can this be when among them were a two-and-a-half-month-old baby and
those aged above 80. Nobody will bring a baby along if their intention is to
terrorise other people," Noor Azman said.

Noting that the attack came without warning, he said it was the Israelis
who opened fire first.

He said that following their release, it felt good to find out that Israel
had been vilified for its actions.


Anifah said that steps would be taken to somehow compel Israel to pay
damages to the Malaysians.

Most of them had only the clothes on their backs when they crossed the
border into Jordan.

A two-member Astro Awani television crew also had their video camera
confiscated.

"We'll bring in our human rights experts to see how this can be done,"
Anifah said, adding that the culprits would not go scot-free for what they had
committed in the seas off Gaza.

The minister also spoke about the need for a special programme to enable
the 12 to narrate the bloody incident on board the Mavi Marmara to fellow
Malaysians.


"There may be Malaysians or others who don't share our views on the zionist
regime. Such a programme will hopefully change that," he said.

He reminded those who wish to go on similar humanitarian missions to inform
the Foreign Ministry beforehand.

This, he said, was important in case something went wrong.

Ministry officials said arrangements were being made to fly the 12 back to
Malaysia as soon as possible.

-- BERNAMA