KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan 2009: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) today called on the government to allow widespread nationwide peaceful demonstrations by citizens to condemn the Israeli attack on Gaza.
Its secretary-general G Rajasegaran said the government should encourage such demonstrations as it would help to put pressure on Israel to stop the carnage.
Speaking to Bernama, he said, world opinion was very crucial at this juncture to soften the hardline stance by Israel and US with regards to the war in Gaza.
“Nationwide peaceful demonstrations by all strata of the Malaysian society would definitely help to send the right signal to the world on Malaysia’s stand on the issue,” he said.
Rajasegaran said the war should not be regarded in terms of religious assault but as a crime against humanity.
“From what we see and hear on television news channels, our hearts go to the innocent children and women who are victims.”
He said the MTUC had also sent a support note to its Palestinian counterpart, the Palestinian Federation of Trade Unions, pledging assistance.
The MTUC had contributed funds through the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to help the displaced Palestinians.
