[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



               E X T E N S I O N S   O F   R E M A R K S


[[Page E 1535]]


 RAMPANT ANTI-SEMITISM IN INDONESIA--ISRAELI ARCHERY TEAM NOT PERMITTED 
                     TO COMPETE UNDER ISRAEL'S FLAG

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 27, 1995
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I was outraged, appalled, and dismayed--but 
unfortunately not surprised--by the latest case of blatant anti-
Semitism in Indonesia.
  The facts of the case are appalling. The world archery championships 
are to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 1-6 of this year. The 
Indonesian officials organizing the event refused to permit the team 
representing Israel to participate under the name of the country of 
Israel and under the Israeli flag. The Indonesian organizing officials 
proposed that the Israeli archery team be designated group A, that it 
march at the opening and closing ceremonies under the flag of the 
International Archery Federation [FITA], and, if an Israeli archer wins 
a medal, the Indonesian officials want the fanfare of the FITA to be 
played instead of the national anthem of Israel.
  Mr. Speaker, this request from Indonesian officials is both ludicrous 
and outrageous. Israel is a sovereign nation, a member of the United 
Nations, and is recognized by most countries. Indonesia, as a matter of 
policy, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and that, I am 
certain, is a clear reflection of the reason these Indonesian officials 
have taken such an offensive racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Israel 
position.
  Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of such intolerance. 
When the film ``Shindler's List'' was produced a few years ago by 
Stephen Spielberg, Indonesia was one of the few countries on the face 
of the Earth which refused to permit the movie to be shown. I 
intervened with the Indonesian Ambassador and I am delighted to report 
that eventually the movie was screened in Indonesia.
  A year or so ago, I also raised with the Indonesian Ambassador and 
discussed in a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee the 
publication in Indonesia's leading English-language newspaper, the 
Indonesia Times, an article by Prof. Agha Hamid, which was one of the 
most vicious anti-Semitic diatribes that I have seen, and I have seen a 
great deal of vicious anti-Semitism. Just one sample: ``Actually the 
Jewish religion is not a religion at all. It is infact [sic.] a bloody, 
sadistic and obscene code devised by Zionist-Talmudist sages.'' And 
further: ``The Jewish sages were not exclusively interested in 
homicide. Sexuality, particularly in far lesser conventional modes, is 
a strong rival for their attention.'' The Indonesian Government at that 
time knew of my outrage over the publication of such disgusting trash.
  Mr. Speaker, in light of this latest intolerable action by Indonesian 
officials organizing the world archery competition against the citizens 
of a sovereign, independent country, I have introduced a resolution 
which puts the Congress on record as opposing the effort to deny 
recognition to the State of Israel and its citizens and reaffirming the 
Congress' strong opposition to racism and anti-Semitism. This 
resolution calls upon the Indonesian Government to act to end this
 outrageous anti-Israeli action. I invite my colleagues to join me as 
cosponsors of this resolution.

  The text of my resolution is as follows:
                      House Concurrent Resolution

       Mr. Lantos submitted the following resolution; which was 
     referred to the Committee on International Relations.
       A resolution condemning the refusal of the Indonesian 
     officials organizing the World Archery Championships in 
     Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 1995 to permit a team from 
     Israel to participate in the competition under the name of 
     Israel and under the flag of Israel, and urging the 
     government of Indonesia to join in condemning this 
     manifestation of racism and anti-Semitism.
       Whereas the Congress has repeatedly expressed its 
     abhorrence of racism and anti-Semitism in any form;
       Whereas the constitution of the International Archery 
     Federation (FITA) bars discrimination against any country, 
     association or person on grounds of race, religion or 
     politics;
       Whereas Indonesian officials organizing the World Archery 
     Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 1995 have 
     refused to permit a term representing Israel to participate 
     in the competition unless the team agrees to conceal its 
     national identity and not compete under the flag of Israel; 
     and
       Whereas officials of the International Archery Federation 
     (FITA) have confirmed that Indonesian officials have refused 
     to permit an Israeli team to participate under its country's 
     name and with its country's flag in the World Archery 
     Championships; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress:
       (1) Condemns the Indonesian offices organizing the World 
     Archery Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, for this refusal 
     to permit a team representing Israel to participate in this 
     international competition under the name and flag of their 
     country;
       (2) Calls upon the Government of Indonesia to repudiate 
     publicly the position that has been taken by those Indonesian 
     officials organizing the World Archery Championships in 
     Jakarta regarding the participation of a team representing 
     Israel in the competition and to urge the inclusion of the 
     team of Israel under the name of Israel and under the flag of 
     Israel;
       (3) Condemns all manifestations of racism and anti-Semitism 
     wherever they may appear in Indonesia and elsewhere 
     throughout the world; and
       (4) Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives and 
     the Secretary of the Senate to convey a copy of this 
     resolution to the President of Indonesia and to the President 
     of the International Archery Federation (FITA).
     

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