Leaders of five Muslim countries --Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates,
Qatar, Malaysia and Senegal --plan to call for an immediate ceasefire and a
formation of peacekeeping force in Lebanon when they meet in Kuala Lumpur on
Thursday.
The leaders from the 57-strong Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) are
expected to come up with a proposal to end Israeli attacks on Lebanon, which
have killed more than 600 civilians in the past 19 days.
Israel's latest air attack on Qana, southern Lebanon, on Sunday killed 56
civilians, including 37 children.
"We can't just sit still when Palestine and Lebanon, two OIC members, are
attacked by Israel. The longer the attacks, the more innocent victims die. We
will try to unite to call for a quick ceasefire," Indonesian Foreign Minister
Hassan Wirayuda said in an interview with The Jakarta Post published Tuesday.
Hassan said the OIC miniature meeting was needed because there were still
different views among OIC members on how to see the attacks.
"With the limited meeting, we hope we can quickly come up with a united voice
that has more influence on the decision-making process for a ceasefire currently
being discussed by the UN Security Council. We will direct our call to the UNSC
because it has the mandate to issue a ceasefire decision," Hassan said.
Because an effective ceasefire needed the establishment of a peacekeeping
force, OIC members would also discuss a proposal on the form of that force, he
said.
Hassan said the UNSC, which is discussing a ceasefire process and
peacekeeping operations in New York, had the option of activating a peacekeeping
force under the UN Charter's chapter six or more robust multinational operations
under chapter seven.
"Hopefully, the OIC proposal can become an input for the UNSC. Although
Indonesia has expressed readiness to join a UN-sanctioned peacekeeping force, we
don't have a tradition of joining multinational forces under chapter seven," he
said.
A robust multinational force would aim to disarm Hizbollah, Hassan said.
"But, there is still a question mark hanging over this. With prepared and
superior troops, Israel is finding it difficult to disarm Hizbollah," he said.