MALAYSIA CALLS ON ISRAEL NOT TO HARM ACTIVISTS ON BOARD RACHEL CORRIE

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called on Israel not to
take drastic action that will harm humanitarian activists on board cargo vessel
MV Rachel Corrie.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Israeli authorities should
ensure safe passage for the vessel to Gaza to deliver the humanitarian cargo.

"Any Israeli military action on an unarmed vessel transporting civilians and
humanitarian assistance will deepen the international community's negative
perception of Israel. It will demonstrate Israel's total indifference to its
international obligations in defiance of world opinion," Anifah said in a
statement here Thursday night.

He added there was no reason for Israel to suspect that Rachel Corrie would
pose any security threat as those on board, comprise members of non governmental
bodies, members of parliament, nobel laureate and also journalists.

"Every single item onboard the vessel such as educational materials, toys
and construction materials have been inspected in Ireland," said Anifah.

Six Malaysians on board are Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO)
representatives Shamsul Akmar Musa Kamal and Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Parit Member of
Parliament Mohd Nizar Zakaria, lawyer Matthias Chang, Abdul Halim Mohamed and
Mohd Jufri Judin from TV3 television station.

Anifah also called on the international community not to allow such
violence and impunity to happen without any appropriate response.

"Israel should engage in peaceful dialogue under the ambit of the Middle
East peace process in efforts to promote lasting peace and security in the
region," he said.

The attack by Israeli troops on Turkish ship "Mavi Marmara" which was
ferrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on Monday had been severely denounced by the
international community.

Twelve Malaysian nationals who were on board the ship were safe but several
volunteers from the other countries were killed.

-- BERNAMA



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