Interfaith group to meet pope to oppose Iraq war<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An Indonesian delegation of religious leaders left for the
\nVatican and Brussels on Tuesday to convey opposition to the U.S.
\nstance against Iraq.<\/p>\n
The interfaith group is due to meet Pope John Paul II and
\nmembers of the European Union parliament to strengthen the
\ninternational peace movement against Washington's war plans, but
\nunderlined that they were not campaigning against the American
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a campaign against Americans. What we oppose is
\nthe U.S. policy that serves the interests of President George W.
\nBush,\" delegation member Nurcholish Madjid said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the media after meeting Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Hassan Wirayuda, the noted Muslim scholar said it was a
\nshame that the U.S., considered a champion of democracy, planned
\na violent, undemocratic act.<\/p>\n
\"We are not addressing opposition of the American people, but
\nagainst the policy of Bush, who for some reason is ready to
\nsacrifice his own people,\" Nurcholish said.<\/p>\n
The interfaith delegation is led by Cardinal Julius
\nDarmaatmadja and includes Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi,
\nMuhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif, Protestant minister Natan
\nSetiabudi, Hindu leader I Nyoman Suwanda and Buddhist leader
\nSupeno Alidjurnawan.<\/p>\n
\"We will meet the pope to convey our opinion that war is
\nagainst humanity and could only destroy humankind,\" the cardinal
\nsaid on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Hasyim Muzadi said the interfaith group also conveyed its
\npeace message to the people of Iraq and urged the country to
\ndisarm.<\/p>\n
\"Iraq should resume projecting an image of being the center of
\nknowledge, and not a center of weapons,\" Hasyim underlined.<\/p>\n
Hasyim also revealed the result of a recent trip to Australia
\nfor the same purpose, saying he saw hope that Australia was ready
\nto change its support of aggression against Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"I think our meeting with Australian officials was a
\nconstructive meeting as they finally decided to reconsider their
\nsupport of the U.S.,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
During the visit, Hasyim was accompanied by Cardinal Julius
\nDarmaatmadja and Andreas Yewangoe of the Indonesian Communion of
\nChurches (PGI).<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim country, was hit by
\nanti-American protests in 2001 when a U.S.-led coalition attacked
\nAfghanistan for allegedly harboring Osama bin Laden, the prime
\nsuspect of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.<\/p>\n
The protests prompted the U.S. government to issue travel
\nwarnings against visiting Indonesia and demand extra security for
\nits interests here.<\/p>\n
Similar anti-American sentiment is likely to recur should Bush
\ngo ahead with an attack on Iraq for allegedly developing weapons
\nof mass destruction.<\/p>",
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