Leaders blame U.S foreign policy<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali<\/p>\n
Five religious leaders of different faiths told U.S. President
\nGeorge W. Bush on Wednesday that his foreign policy was to blame
\nfor growing radicalism among Muslim communities.<\/p>\n
The leaders told Bush that if he wanted the support of Muslim
\ncountries for his war on terror, his policies would have to
\nchange.<\/p>\n
Muslim leader Syafii Maarif said they told Bush he had to come
\nup with a new paradigm to solve international conflicts if he
\nwanted to stem growing anti-Americanism around the globe.<\/p>\n
\"We told him U.S. foreign policy should seek a new paradigm if
\nthe U.S. wants to be respected by the world community and be
\nsafe,\" said Syafii, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, the country's
\nsecond largest Muslim organization with some 30 million members.<\/p>\n
During his three-hour stopover in Bali, President Bush met
\nwith Syafii, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muslim
\nscholar Azyumardi Azra, Indonesian Churches Council chairman Rev.
\nNathan Setiabudi and Hindu leader Ida Pedande Made Gunung.<\/p>\n
The meeting, originally scheduled to run for 30 minutes,
\nlasted for almost one hour. During the meeting, the religious
\nleaders told Bush that U.S. policies in the Middle East were one
\nof the main causes of terror attacks.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said they also told Bush not to equate terrorism with
\nIslam.<\/p>\n
\"Never link terrorism with Islam because it will only open the
\ndoor to more radicalism. It is not Islam that creates radicalism;
\nit is injustice around the world,\" said Hasyim, the leader of the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization, the NU, with about 40
\nmillion members.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said the use of the word \"crusade\" by Bush in a speech
\nin the early days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on
\nNew York and Washington was proof that Washington related
\nterrorism with religion.<\/p>\n
\"He (Bush) said that it was a mistake (to use the term) and
\nwill never do it again,\" Syafii said.<\/p>\n
Rev. Nathan said the religious leaders also pointed out that
\nAmerica, as the world's only superpower, should bear the greatest
\nresponsibility for making the world a better place.<\/p>\n
\"Like it or not it is a fact that America is the world's most
\npowerful country, but it has to remember that it carries a moral
\nresponsibility toward the world,\" Nathan said.<\/p>\n
The religious leaders said they came away with a positive
\nimpression of the meeting, and hoped that it would have an impact
\non the decision-making process in the United States.<\/p>\n
\"We see that he (Bush) had the good intention of having a
\nfrank and candid discussion with us, although we cannot expect it
\nto change American policy. This is not an overnight process,\"
\nSyafii said.<\/p>\n
Azyumardi said Bush seemed to understand the point of view of
\nthe Indonesians.<\/p>\n
During a press conference, President Bush said he was
\ndelighted for the opportunity to have the discussion, saying the
\nreligious leaders were \"sustaining Indonesia's tradition of
\ntolerance and moderation\".<\/p>\n
\"Murder has no place in any religion and must find no home in
\nIndonesia,\" he said, adding that diversity is a source of
\nstrength for both Indonesia and America.<\/p>\n
\"Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which is
\nprofessed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that
\nIslam is fully compatible with liberty and tolerance and
\nprogress, because we see the proof in your country and in our
\nown,\" Bush said.<\/p>\n
He further said that Washington would provide US$157 million
\nto be disbursed over six years to support elementary education in
\nIndonesia as part of the effort to eradicate radicalism.<\/p>",
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