Challenge of political Islam<\/p>\n
Challenge of political Islam in
\nworld's most populous Muslim nation<\/p>\n
Amy Chew
\nNew Straits Times
\nKuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid may have failed
\nin his attempt to stand for elections but the ulama remains an
\ninfluential figure as the country's presidential candidates seek
\nhis support in their bid for power.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, a large crowd of journalists camped outside his
\nhome as presidential hopeful, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, held a
\n45-minute meeting with him. Susilo emerged the front-runner in
\nJuly 5 presidential elections and will face incumbent Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in the run-off on Sept. 20. After the meeting,
\nAbdurrahman, affectionately known as Gus Dur, said that he gave
\nSusilo his advice but not his support.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, who headed the country's largest Muslim organization,
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), which claims 40 million followers, for 15
\nyears before stepping down to become president in 1999, expressed
\nconcern over the use of religion to grab power.<\/p>\n
He says the politicization of Islam in the world's most
\npopulous Muslim nation was a dangerous development with the
\npotential to stir unrest and threaten the country's unity and
\nplurality. \"I told Susilo that the root of the unrest now is
\nthose people who use religion ...the first thing to do is to
\ndepoliticize religion, that's the only way, but it's hard work.<\/p>\n
We have to depoliticize because if it goes too far, it is
\nimpossible to stop,\" said Gus Dur, adding that Susilo shared his
\nview. \"He (Susilo) said to me he felt the most dangerous thing is
\nsectarianism,\" said Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
NU claims 40 million followers and is seen as the face of
\nmoderate Islam in Indonesia. Gus Dur remains a revered figure in
\nNU until today and is renowned for his inclusive brand of Islam
\nwhich stresses plurality and tolerance.<\/p>\n
During the first round of elections, which saw five
\ncandidates, the top three places were won by nationalist figures
\nsuch as Susilo, Megawati and former armed forces chief Wiranto.
\nThe last two places were occupied by candidates often seen as
\nIslamist figures -- Amien Rais, the speaker of the highest law-
\nmaking body, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and Vice-
\nPresident Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
Both candidates have expressed support to establish syariah in
\nthe country at some point. According to Gus Dur, Amien's and
\nHaz's failure at the polls was viewed as a defeat at the hands of
\nnon-Muslims despite the fact the top three candidates are all
\nMuslim and have performed the haj. \"Now those people with
\nreligious fervor think they (Rais and Haz) are defeated by non-
\nMuslims, that's crazy,\" said Gus Dur to illustrate his point.
\nSome of Amien's supporters have come out to say they will abstain
\nfrom voting in the run-off.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur also pointed to a prominent local Muslim activist --
\nwho constantly appeared in public to declare events or issues, as
\nhalal or haram -- as a dangerous development as it served to
\ndeepen divisions and polarize society. \"I describe such people as
\npolitical people using religion to grab power. It's not about
\nestablishing syariah in the country. They don't even know
\nanything about syariah\" said Gus Dur, thumping his walking stick.<\/p>\n
Despite being left half-blind by three strokes, Gus Dur still
\ntravels to the provinces almost on a daily basis to meet with the
\npeople as he has done throughout his working life -- a feat which
\nbinds him in the hearts of the rural people who form the backbone
\nof the nation. \"For me, I play my part as 'community man'. I go
\nround the country giving speeches. I tell the people to be
\ntolerant of others, to be open-minded and not to rush to
\nconclusions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Susilo or Megawati would be able to defuse the
\nsituation, he said: \"No. Because they lack the courage to do
\nthat.\" Indonesia also faces a huge challenge in holding the
\ncountry together as the lack of leadership in the central
\ngovernment in the sprawling archipelago could fuel separatism.
\n\"You see, the inability to govern will cause the provinces to
\nthink that there is no use in being part of Indonesia and it is
\nbetter for them to go by themselves,\" said Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
The country faces an armed separatist insurgency in Aceh which
\nhas tied down more than 30,000 troops and scarce financial
\nresources. A low-level insurgency also simmers in the resource-
\nrich province of Papua. Analysts fear a disintegration of
\nIndonesia will destabilize the rest of the region and send an
\nexodus of people to seek refuge in neighboring countries like
\nMalaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n
When Indonesia imposed a military operation in Aceh last year,
\nhundreds of Acehnese fled to Malaysia to escape fighting between
\ngovernment troops and separatist rebels.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's greatest hope lies with the people's faith in
\nplurality and living together as a big nation. \"Indonesians
\nstress multiplicity, plurality. Those things we have to protect.
\nThe hope of Indonesia is to stay together to become a big state,
\na strong community.\"<\/p>",
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