Jakarta, The Indonesia Herald - Head of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM-UI), Verrel Uziel, emphasized that the solidarity rally in defense of Palestine by UI students did not call for a boycott of Israeli-affiliated products.
According to Verrel, the rally was more a form of solidarity from UI students to support the people in Palestine and students in the United States who were repressed for voicing the same concerns about Palestine.
'So, there was no boycott call at all in the action. I didn't hear any call for boycott. For BEM UI itself, it is clear that this action is a form of solidarity for our brothers in Palestine and students in the US who are repressed for voicing the same thing about Palestine," Verrel said in a written statement received on Saturday (6/15/2024).
Verrel believes that the action in defense of Palestine must be carried out because of the preamble of the 1945 Constitution of the Indonesian people.
"Why we are voicing this is because it is in line with the spirit of the Indonesian people that freedom is the right of all nations," said Verrel.
According to Verrel, voicing the humanitarian issue of Palestine must continue until Israel stops its aggression against Palestine.
"Because, if we remain silent about the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, it means that we are also contributing to the crimes committed by the Israeli Zionists. Therefore, we choose to speak out to voice the truth in support of our brothers and sisters in Palestine," Verrel concluded.
The incessant attacks on bottled mineral water (AMDK) products through boycott calls seem to have been realized by consumers who see this as a negative framing and campaign against beverage brands that were born and raised in Indonesia.
Evidently, people still use Aqua drinks because they are considered healthier and have become a necessity of daily life.
Misbakhudin, for example, still uses Aqua as his daily drinking water, both at home and at work. He argues that Aqua is still the best of all types of bottled water to date. "I find it difficult to switch to other types because I have been drinking Aqua since I was a child," said the man who works as a risk management in a company in the Ciputat area.
He said he knew nothing about whether Aqua was affiliated with Israel or not. For him, the drinking water he consumes is only healthy.
According to him, supporting Palestine can be done in other ways, for example by praying together or providing humanitarian assistance without having to sacrifice Indonesian employees who already work in companies that are said to be affiliated with Israel.
"If we follow suit by boycotting these products, it is the same if we actually create new suffering for our own brothers and sisters. The workers will lose their jobs, which may be the backbone of their families," he said.
He even suspects that the boycott call against one of the bottled water brands to defend Palestine could have been used by certain parties through several mass organizations that deliberately aim to bring Aqua down.
"And I think, there are also many people like me, especially the middle to lower class, who do not know whether these products are really affiliated or not with Israel. Maybe most of them are just following the bandwagon, and there are certain parties who are deliberately trying to bring Aqua down for business purposes. What is clear is that for me, the important thing is that the water is healthy," he said.
At the demonstration in defense of Palestine last weekend, many participants also joined the demonstration in support of Palestine while carrying and enjoying Aqua. Zulkarnaen, one of the protesters, said that he was not embarrassed if he had to carry Aqua as his drinking water supply. "No problem, because for me Aqua is much healthier than other types of drinks," he said.
According to this student from a private university in South Jakarta, the issue of Aqua as a product affiliated with Israel is only a framing by certain parties against Aqua. "It is clearly seen in the media and social media through repeated narratives by quoting organizations that are not clear, because they are not registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights," he said.
The same thing was also expressed by Ahmad from Depok who participated in the demonstration in defense of Palestine. He and his colleagues were seen drinking Aqua water to quench their thirst during the demonstration. According to him, the protest in defense of Palestine is a humanitarian action.
"The important thing is how we show our togetherness so that Israel will no longer commit its crimes against the Palestinian people. Instead, we should pray together and donate to Palestine to help our brothers and sisters who are suffering there," he said.
Therefore, he said and condemned all actions taken by certain parties, especially unclear mass organizations that only utilize this issue for the business interests of certain entrepreneurs who only aim to bankrupt their competitors. "I hope there are no such people who participate in demonstrations in defense of Palestine like this," he said.