UK Has Taken Immediate Action On Israeli Attack, Says British High Commission

UK Has Taken Immediate Action On Israeli Attack, Says British High Commission




KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom had immediately responded to the attack on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara humanitarian aid ship by Israeli forces by condemning the attack.



Acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ray Kyles said it was unfair to claim that the UK, among others, continued to condone the severe and recurring acts of state terrorism carried out by Israel.



"Our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary were no less rapid in criticising the attack and are party to the European Union (EU) statement which condemned Israel's actions against the flotilla.



"The UK also played its full part in agreeing to the United Nations statement on the need for a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation into the events," he said in a statement issued here, Friday, in response to the comments made by Malaysian Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan on Tuesday.



Ragunath had called on the international community, particularly the United States of America, the UK and EU to act urgently to curb Israel's blatant violations of international law and said these nations must not continue to condone the severe and recurring acts of state terrorism carried out by Israel.



Kyles said the UK government had also called for the immediate lifting of the blockade on Gaza. "Indeed, it has long been Britain's view that the restrictions on Gaza should be lifted."



He said they would take the same principled stand across all their diplomatic efforts and stress to the Israeli government the need for it to act with restraint and in line with its international obligation.



"The UK and Malaysia also have a common concern in that a number of our nationals were on board the ships and their safety has been our most immediate priority," he said.



On Monday, 12 Malaysians were among hundreds of volunteers detained by Israel after its forces stormed the Mavi Marmara that was part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.



Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW), has urged the Turkey government to bring Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for ordering the illegal attack on the aid ship and causing the loss of lives and injuries to the aid workers.



Its secretary-general Yaacob Hussain Merican said the attack on the high seas was in clear violation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Againts the Safety of Maritime Navigation adopted in Rome on March 11, 1998.



"This action can also be taken by Ireland if the aid vessel MV Rachel Corrie, registered in Ireland and currently on its way to Gaza is attacked by Israel.



"For this act of piracy, murder and abduction committed on the high seas, both Turkey and Ireland can bring up charges against Israel under the Convention," he said.



On that note, KLFCW urged the Uited Nations General Assembly or the United Nations Human Rights Council to quickly pass a resolution endorsing war crime charges against Israel for its latest attack on humanitarian aid ships and aid workers on the high seas.



-- BERNAMA

Kapal Bantuan Malaysia Telah Dirampas Komando Israel. Hubungan Dengan Kapal Rachel Corrie Terputus

Wisma Putra mengesahkan hubungan dengan kapal MV Rachel Corrie yang meneruskan misi Flotila Pembebasan bagi bantuan kemanusiaan ke Gaza sehingga kini terputus.

"Kami masih memantau keadaan itu dan sedang berusaha untuk mendapatkan maklumat mengenai perkembangan kapal berkenaan," kata jurucakap Wisma Putra ketika dihubungi mStar Online, hari ini.

Bagaimanapun, beliau enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai kali terakhir mereka dapat berhubung dengan kapal Rachel Corrie serta keadaan sukarelawan dalam kapal itu pada masa ini.

Pada 30 Mei lepas tiga kapal dari Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO) termasuk MV Rachel Corrie berlepas dari pelabuhan Malta untuk menghantar bantuan kemanusiaan ke semenanjung Gaza.

Antara sukarelawan dalam kapal tersebut adalah wakil PGPO, Shamsul Akmar Musa Kamal Shamsul serta Anggota parlimen Parit Mohd Nizar Zakaria, peguam Matthias Chang dan dua wakil media dari stesen televisyen TV3

Note: Mana perginya anifah aman yg kata nak selamatkan rakyat malaysia yg ditawan tu?

Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Anifah Aman berlepas ke Jordan pagi ini untuk mengusahakan pembebasan 12 rakyat Malaysia yang ditahan pada Isnin ketika tentera Israel menyerang kapal yang mereka naiki bersama sukarelawan antarabangsa dalam perjalanan untuk menyerahkan bantuan kemanusiaan kepada penduduk Palestin di Gaza.




Anifah diiringi beberapa pegawai Wisma Putra, kata seorang pembantu beliau kepada Bernama.

Seramai 12 rakyat Malaysia termasuk dua wartawan stesen televisyen Astro Awani berada dalam kapal Turki, "Mavi Marmara", dan mereka dilaporkan selamat dalam serangan itu yang mengakibatkan beberapa sukarelawan terbunuh.

Semalam Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak telah mengarahkan Wisma Putra supaya menyelamatkan kesemua rakyat malaysia itu.

Anifah memberitahu pemberita semalam bahawa Wisma Putra sedang mengenal pasti lokasi di mana kesemua rakyat Malaysia itu kini berada.

-BERNAMA-