Moderate Muslims oppose 'sweep' threat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of mainstream Muslim groups have
\nopposed a threat by hardline groups to conduct a \"sweep\" of
\nAmerican citizens in Indonesia if the United States attacks
\nAfghanistan.<\/p>\n
They said nonviolent means, such as peaceful demonstrations,
\nwere acceptable to protest at U.S. actions, but that forcing U.S.
\ncitizens out of the country would be an improper way to treat
\n\"guests\".<\/p>\n
\"We don't need to expel U.S. citizens, staging protests would
\nbe enough. Indonesia is an open country,\" said Imam Addaruqutni,
\nchairman of the youth group of Muhammadiyah, the country's second
\nlargest Muslim organization.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on a plan by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI)
\nto conduct a sweep of American citizens if Washington attacks
\nAfghanistan, which is believed to be harboring Saudi-born
\ndissident Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11
\nterrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.<\/p>\n
A co-chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Amidhan,
\nalso expressed opposition to the plan.<\/p>\n
\"Why should they launch raids? It would be OK to stage
\npeaceful rallies, but not raids,\" Amidhan told The Jakarta Post
\nhere on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He said the group should stage protests instead of launching
\nraids, which would be unduly disruptive.<\/p>\n
\"Personally, I disagree with that plan. Anyway, we don't
\nactually know what their real plan is,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With U.S. Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard requesting police
\nprotection for U.S. citizens and interests in the country on
\nFriday, some Americans in Jakarta are already rethinking their
\npersonal security.<\/p>\n
Chicago native \"Jenny\", who works at an American organization,
\nsaid she has switched to \"plan B\" in the last few days. It's a
\nplan she has used at other tense times during her three years
\nhere, such as when there was public anger at Australians during
\nthe East Timor crisis.<\/p>\n
\"I am looking at personal security, at my pattern of behavior.
\nSo, going by car instead of walking, going out in groups,\" said
\nJenny, who is in her early 40s and lives in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We're used to it here, but then again I've never felt that
\nsafe in New York or Washington D.C.\"<\/p>\n
Another American expatriate, Rick, who has worked in the
\ncountry for four years, said he was concerned by the situation
\nbut hoped \"cooler heads would prevail\".<\/p>\n
\"I'm keeping my eye more on the news than I usually would and
\nI certainly remember when the Solo sweeps occurred,\" the 32-year-
\nold said, referring to actions taken by a vigilante group in
\nSurakarta last year.<\/p>\n
\"But I have yet to feel personally threatened. I'm hopeful
\nthat Americans and Indonesians will continue to have good
\nrelations on a citizen-to-citizen level.\"<\/p>\n
Both Jenny and Rick said they were overwhelmed by the
\noutpouring of support from Indonesian friends over the Sept. 11
\nattacks. However, they were also mindful of the possible
\nrepercussions, especially in the world's largest Islamic country,
\nif the U.S. decides, in Jenny's words, to \"bomb the s***\" out of
\nAfghanistan.<\/p>\n
\"Although I feel the U.S. government has been trying to
\ndistinguish that it is trying to punish the terrorists for the
\nattacks and not seeking a war with the Islamic world, I think
\nthose (messages) are sometimes lost in the rhetoric and emotional
\nfever pitch,\" Rick said.<\/p>\n
\"I'm hoping that statesmen will step back and see that these
\ndistinctions are being lost ...\"<\/p>\n
Evacuation<\/p>\n
The possibility of evacuation is also on their minds. Jenny
\nsaid companies were talking about the logistics of moving out of
\nthe country, such as where to go and how much it would cost, if
\nthe U.S. Embassy orders its citizens to leave.<\/p>\n
The irony of her situation here and that of her Arab-American
\nfriends back home is not lost on Jenny.<\/p>\n
\"When the WTC was bombed a few years back they (Arab-
\nAmericans) went through so much, a lot of persecution, now I'm
\nreading a lot about it happening again. I hate that, I feel so
\ndisappointed.\"<\/p>\n
A 46-year-old American woman married to an Indonesian said she
\nhad never been afraid of her Indonesian neighbors.<\/p>\n
\"I am not scared. Indonesians are good people. The threat was
\nonly a political move by certain groups. They are paid to launch
\nraids,\" the woman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
She added that her family in the U.S. had called her to return
\nhome, but she refused to do so. \"I told them that I was fine,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
\"Of course anyone can have their own opinion, but I am not
\nscared,\" she added. (brc\/08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moderate-muslims-oppose-sweep-threat-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}