Global peace: United Nations’ role,
capability and authority to ensure global peace should be strengthened
Statement
by Kerk Kim Hock
(Petaling Jaya,
Wednesday): Many
Non Aligned Movement (NAM) delegates have openly voiced their appreciation
and praises for the well organised 13th Summit. The government and all
Malaysians, whether they are the civil servants, enforcement agencies, the
media or members of the public, who have helped made the Summit a success in
one way or another deserve credit for their efforts and cooperation.
At a time when the world is threatened with an impending war in the Middle
East, the Summit has rightly focused on the impending war against Iraq. The
Summit’s strong and clear message on this question is timely and necessary.
However, in order to ensure global peace, it is imperative that NAM and
other international organisations should endeavor to strengthen the role,
capability and authority of the United Nations to prevent war and sustain
peace.
It is worrying that despite the huge world opinion against the impending
war; the America does not seem to have softened its determination to want to
launch its attacks on Iraq. Neither is it comforting that despite appeals
made to Iraq to fully cooperate with the United Nations, the response has
not been one of total cooperation. Hence, the world watches in great anxiety
as the threat of war looms.
Global peace cannot be ensured and sustained if the United Nation’s
resolutions can be ignored or violated by any nation for whatever reason.
Hence, the world community needs to ensure that the United Nations can play
its effective role in ensuring peace by strengthening its capability and
authority.
As the new chairman of NAM, the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamd has sent a
very clear and determined message on the issue of war and the impending war
against Iraq. His timely, clear and bold message has been well received by
the NAM delegates.
However, his speech made at the NAM Business Forum where he said that the
impending war on Iraq and the failure to act against North Korea showed that
the West was against the Muslims has caused worry and invite criticism.
I have received complaints from members of the public who regard his
comments of portraying the war as the West against the Muslims as totally
unnecessary.
The complainants view the attempt to portray the impending war as a
religious issue as unwise, because this will only unnecessarily cerate or
worsen misunderstanding and conflict among the world community. This
situation will certainly not help towards promoting understanding and peace
among the peoples of the world.
At a time when widespread world opinion, irrespective of geographical
boundaries, racial and religious background, is needed to stop the impending
war, any comments which will divide the peace loving people and weaken the
peace movement should be avoided.
(25/2/2003)
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Kerk Kim Hock, DAP Secretary General & MP for
Kota Melaka
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