AN OPEN LETTER TO GEORGE W. BUSH FROM MALAYSIA

http://www.keamanan.net.my/memo.html

We, the undersigned representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia, in sympathy with the victims of the recent kamikaze attacks upon the World Trade Center and Pentagon in New York and Washington, respectively, wish to convey our condolences to the families of the victims and the American government for the great loss.

We condemn all forms of terrorism, whether by individuals, by organized groups or by sovereign states against civilians, groups or other weak states. However, terrorism per se must be classified as to its form and motivation in order to differentiate simple lawlessness from those seeking vengeance or self-preservation from unjust regimes.

We also condemn any effort or insinuation that links terrorism with Islam or any other religions for that matter anywhere in the world. The Muslims have always been used as a bogey for every terrorist attack elsewhere, including some of the bombings which could have been stage-managed perhaps by certain interest groups or by some American terrorists like Timothy McVeigh, who made no remorse after bombing the Federal Building in Oklahoma a few years ago.

We strongly believe that terrorism is a by-product of an unjust system, emanating from the center of power, and an all-embracing dominance by powerful nations over the rests of the world. Among the perceived root causes of injustices being as follows:

*The American Foreign Policy on Global Dominance. Since the U.S. bombing of Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in World War II and, thereafter, in Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Sudan and Afghanistan; up to the naked aggression and political meddling in the internal affairs of certain countries in Latin America; including Brazil, Panama, Nicaragua and Cuba, among others, the U.S. has been acting unilaterally, in various instances like a self-styled world policeman.

*The American all-out support of Israeli apartheid policy and aggression in Palestine. Despite the overwhelming international condemnation against Israeli racist' policy in the Middle East, and the UN resolution to send Peacekeeping Forces to Palestine, upon request by the Palestinian Authority, the American government continued to use its veto power to frustrate all humanitarian move to protect the Palestinians, in an effort to perpetuate its blind support for Israel, thereby condoning state terrorism in that part of the world.

We strongly believe that the military solution unilaterally sought by the U.S. against Usama bin Laden and Afghanistan in the name of terrorism, is not the right approach. It has to be done through political and diplomatic means, taking cognizance of the root causes of terrorism. Unless the U.S. and its allies accept responsibility for various injustices inflicted on third world countries, the problem on terrorism can never be solved, rather it would only plunge the world into chaos and devastation as violence begets violence. Then nobody will have peace of mind, as the world will no longer be safe for everyone, including the innocent Americans in the comfort of their homes.

OUR POSITION

We recommend that any global fight against terrorism must be initiated by the United Nations and supported by all other nations; not by the unilateral action of the United States of America. There had been ugly precedents of American unilateral actions where certain countries suffered enormous losses for being merely suspected of wrong doing which were later found to be untrue. Any retaliation to terrorist attacks on any country or group, for that matter, must be coursed through the United Nations.

PLANNED ATTACK ON AFGHANISTAN

We condemn any attack on Afghanistan or any country that will render the safety of civilians in jeopardy, especially if such attack does not have any solid evidence to merit its launching. Should there be incontrovertible evidences against Usama bin Laden and the Taleban government of Afghanistan, any attack should be carried out more precisely to punish only the perpetrators and absolute care should be taken to spare the civilians. America, which arrogates to be a model of modern civilization and human decency, should not equate itself with undignified terrorists in the conduct of war against terrorism.

We, therefore, call upon the American government to exercise restraints and to take stock of modern international law elicited by the former U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster, which states: "respect for the inviolable character of the territory of independent states is the most essential foundation of civilization, and force may be used only in self-defense, when the necessity is instant, overwhelming and leaving no other choice of means, and no moment of deliberation." It may not also be the most opportune time yet for the U.S.A. to launch another "Crusade".

We call upon the United Nations to take the lead role in the concerted efforts by the international community to fight against terrorism. The European Community, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of African Unity and other groups should assert a positive role, respectively, in the collective search for a peaceful solution to the increasing world tension.

We urge leaders of the world's great religions: Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and others to conduct special prayers for peace in this world, and to formulate crises resolutions, peace and goodwill for nations and all of mankind.

We call upon the Malaysian Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to take the initiative to voice out the opinion of the Malaysian people to peacefully resolve international conflicts through regional and international bodies like ASEAN, OIC, NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT, GROUP OF 77, SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION and the UNITED NATIONS, in order to convince the US government to resolve conflicts through diplomatic channels or the UN, and to warn them that a military solution would plunge the world into chaos and destruction of uncontrollable proportions.

Finally, we support Dr. Mahathir's call "that the United Nations should organise a world conference on terrorism so that we can define terrorists because not all terrorists are Muslims."

KUALA LUMPUR
September 27, 2001

Signatories:

1. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
2. Belia Buddhist
3. Consumer Association of Penang (CAP)
4. Community Support Network (CSN)
5. Gabungan Pelajar Malayu Semenanjung (GPMS)
6. Ikatan Siswazah Pahang (IKATAN)
7. Institut Masyarakat Madani (IMAD)
8. Kelab Remaja Islah (JIM)
9. Kesatuan Pelajar Islam Johor (KPIJ)
10. Kesatuan Pelajar Islam Melaka (KPIM)
11. Kesatuan Pelajar Islam Perak (KPIP)
12. Malaysian Relief International (MRI)
13. Malaysian Sociological Research Institute (MSRI)
14. Persatuan Kebajikan Pelajar Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Selangor (PEPIAS)
15. Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM)
16. Persatuan Pelajar Islam Kelantan (PPIK)
17. Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM)
18. Persatuan Ulama' Malaysia (PUM)
19. Pusat Khidmat Ehsan
20. Persatuan Usahawan dan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (URUS)
21. Sahabat Pekerja
22. Teras Pengupayaan Melayu (TERAS)
23. Society for Christian Reflection

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