Replica of 'corpse' used in rally to challenge US veto power

KUALA LUMPUR - The participants of the 'Malaysia Rise Against the United States Veto in the United Nations' rally carried a replica of a 'corpse' as a symbol of Israel's Zionist atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The gathering, which started at 2pm took place at Jalan Tun Razak on Friday, where about eight participants, consisting of women and children, were seen carrying replicas of corpses as well as holding Palestinian flags.

The participants and organisers also chanted 'hell America' and 'destroy Israel' together with chanting the takbir.

The participants started marching from the Tabung Haji Mosque before stopping near the United States (US) Embassy.

Heavy rain during the rally did not prevent the participants from moving to continue to protest and rejection of the US for using their veto power to reject the resolution of an immediate ceasefire in Palestine recently.

The gathering, organised by the Secretariat of Palestine Malaysia (SPM), also brought together about 20 local NGOs.

The Universal People's Welfare Organisation Secretary General, Syed Sheikh Syed Mustafa said that until now more than 19,000 lives have been lost as a result of Israeli bombing in Gaza and the West Bank.

"We want a ceasefire, and a final word from the UN, to stop the inhumane attacks resulting in the massacre of innocent civilians.

"We are asking all Muslim countries, Arab countries, and countries in the world that defend Palestine to act harder against Israel and the US by pressuring them to establish a ceasefire in Gaza," he told reporters after the rally here on Friday.

Meanwhile, World Mosque Defending Al-Aqsa (MANAR) chairman, Datuk Seri Ahmad Awang said that what is happening today is as if all international organisations are no longer useful.

He said that if the United Nations is no longer respected by the US, then dissolve it.

"This is because Israel does not comply with UN's decision.

"We hope that the NGOs will always do this kind of insistence to highlight to the world that we in Malaysia, Malaysians regardless of race and religion, reject the atrocities committed by Israel," he said.

Sinar reported on Monday that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed grief and regret over the actions of the US using veto power to reject the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution calling for a ceasefire between the Zionist regime of Israel and Palestine.

US actions thwarted the UNSC's efforts to find a solution to the war,which has so far killed more than 17,000 Palestinians, with approximately 70 percent involving children and women, while more than 48,000 others injured.

The US was the only country to vote against the resolution, which also saw Russia and the United Kingdom take a stand for neutrality.

A total of 12 other countries,namely China, France, Japan, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Albabia, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Malta, and Mozambique, support.

The vote was held after the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, something he had never done before due to the dire situation in Gaza.