JP\/4\/JI<\/p>\n
JI does not exist in Indonesia: Hasyim<\/p>\n
Nugroho and
\nA'an Suryana
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nSurabaya\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Hasyim Muzadi said over the
\nweekend that the United States was playing the Jamaah Islamiyah
\n(JI) card to put pressure on and control Indonesia and other
\nMuslim countries.<\/p>\n
Hasyim, who leads the country's biggest Muslim organization of
\n40 million members, said on Saturday that the charge that the JI
\nterrorist network was operating here would only create the false
\nimpression that Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country,
\nwas a safe haven for terrorists.<\/p>\n
Hasyim's statement came just one day after the United States
\nfroze the assets and accounts of 10 suspected terrorists, mostly
\nIndonesian nationals.<\/p>\n
It also came after the Central Jakarta District Court failed
\nto determine that Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who was
\nsentenced to four years in prison for immigration offenses, was
\nthe head of JI, a regional terrorist network blamed for a series
\nof bomb explosions in the country, including the deadly Bali
\nbombing in October 2002 and the JW Marriott Hotel attack on Aug.
\n5, 2003.<\/p>\n
\"The verdict is proof that JI does not exist in Indonesia,
\neven if it exists in other countries,\" Hasyim said in Surabaya,
\nEast Java on Saturday.<\/p>\n
JI is a shadowy terror group linked to Osama bin Laden's al-
\nQaeda terrorist network, which had been blamed for the Sept. 11
\nattacks that killed more than 3,000 people in New York and
\nWashington.<\/p>\n
According to Hasyim, JI was a label applied to Muslim
\nmovements, especially fundamentalist ones, in order to push them
\ninto a corner.<\/p>\n
He lambasted the U.S. for not distinguishing between the
\nmoderate Muslim majority and the small number of Muslim
\nfundamentalists.<\/p>\n
The U.S. and its allies have been extremely cautious toward
\nMuslim countries, especially after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
\nto New York and Washington as evident in tighter visa regulations
\nimposed on citizens of Muslim countries wishing to visit the U.S.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said Islamic fundamentalism was merely a reaction to
\nthe unjust world in which the U.S. itself played its part.<\/p>\n
\"Islam is not radical and does not subscribe to terrorism.
\nRadicalism may happen, but it is only a reaction to injustice
\nthat the U.S. itself has perpetrated, for example, in the case of
\nPalestine,\" said Hasyim.<\/p>\n
Muslims have been frustrated by the U.S.'s double standards in
\nthe Palestinian issue. On one side, it promotes democracy,
\nfreedom of expression and human rights, but on another side, the
\nU.S. has endorsed Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and
\nhuman rights violations there.<\/p>\n
Hasyim suggested that Muslims fight against this injustice
\nthrough peaceful means, such as by enhancing the quality of life
\nand welfare of Muslims and improving the quality of Muslim
\neducation.<\/p>\n
Islam should not be promoted through harsh means, but it could
\nbe done through legislation, that could favor Muslims, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, legal expert Rudy Satrio said strong evidence was
\nneeded to prove that JI did exist in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The U.S. should back up its statement, that JI does exist in
\nIndonesia, with strong evidence, so that the public would believe
\nit.<\/p>\n
\"The trial of Ba'asyir was the right occasion for the U.S. to
\nprove that JI existed in Indonesia. However, it apparently failed
\nto use this to provide evidence in the trial and finally convince
\nthe people that its allegation was untrue,\" said Rudy of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4ji-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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