Muhammadiyah seeks an end to new imperialism<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah,
\nended its annual meeting here on Sunday, calling on the
\ninternational community to put an end to what it sees as a new
\nform of imperialism.<\/p>\n
The organization also urged all nations to further develop an
\ninternational dialog, and renounce any hegemonic power whose
\nactions could lead to the destruction of civilizations.<\/p>\n
"Muhammadiyah invites the international community to put an
\nend to all violence and neo-imperialism which has caused
\nsuffering in places like Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and
\nKashmir, and in other Muslim nations and developing countries,"
\nMuhammadiyah said in its recommendation, issued at the end of a
\nfour-day meeting in Denpasar, Bali.<\/p>\n
The recommendation also touched on subjects critical to
\nIndonesia, such as current widespread corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism, locally known as KKN, along with religious and ethnic
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah, which claims 30 million members, also stressed
\nthe importance of promoting the rights of women and children.<\/p>\n
A peaceful dialog, firm law enforcement, building a democratic
\nand civil society, and displaying a willingness to sacrifice
\none's individual and group interests for the common good, were
\namong other things offered by the organization as remedies to the
\ncrises plaguing the country.<\/p>\n
Briefing the press after the closing ceremony, Muhammadiyah
\nchairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif stressed that neo-imperialism could
\ntake the form of economic imperialism, or, more dangerously,
\ncultural imperialism.<\/p>\n
Yet, Syafii said that he was aware that the struggle to
\neradicate neo-imperialism was a long-term goal. The Muslim people
\nwould have the chance to win this struggle if they had enough
\ncourage to be more self-critical, he said.<\/p>\n
"If Muslim people are being terrorized, trampled upon, or
\notherwise suffering, we must have the courage to look at our own
\nweaknesses -- we should not just blame others, but we must also
\ndare to admit our own failures.<\/p>\n
"I believe it will be some time before we can achieve this,
\nbut I hope that we will be able to accelerate this enlightenment
\nprocess in the future, Muslim people everywhere can stand up to
\nother forces of the world as their equals," Syafii said.<\/p>\n
One way to do so, according to Syafii, would be by holding a
\nglobal international dialog.<\/p>\n
Failure to do so in the face of this new imperialism, he
\nwarned, would transform the world into a place void of happiness.<\/p>\n
"But I do believe that the initial step toward achieving this
\ndialog has already begun.<\/p>\n
"Presently, U.S. senators are organizing the 50th National
\nPrayer on Feb. 7.; representatives from some 160 countries are
\ninvited to join the event. I too was invited but, unfortunately,
\nI cannot attend," he said.<\/p>\n
"This event is a sign that the U.S., despite its superpower
\nstatus, has already realized that power-based principles and
\napproaches in dealing with other nations cannot be maintained any
\nlonger," he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Muhammadiyah Vice Chairman Din Syamsudin described
\nthe reasoning behind the recommendation on neo-imperialism.<\/p>\n
"The participants were aware of the existence of certain
\nimbalances in the world of today," he said.<\/p>\n
"This imbalance is caused by globalism, which gives rise to
\nsubjective interpretations of world events that favor the
\ninterests of powerful countries," he said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. "war on terror," launched unilaterally and without
\nsufficient agreement from the international community, was just
\none manifestation of this new imperialism, Din asserted.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia, its government and its people, must stand
\ntall and fight this new imperialism," he said.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah's recommendations for the nation<\/p>\n
1. All social movements must undertake reform<\/p>\n
2. A mobilization of national efforts toward civil society<\/p>\n
3. An end to corruption and nepotism<\/p>\n
4. The resolution of religious and social conflicts<\/p>\n
5. An avoidance of the use of repression and violence in
\nresolving conflicts<\/p>\n
6. An increase of local participation in civic affairs, without
\nselfishness based on local and regional interests<\/p>\n
7. Accommodation of greater public participation, including the
\nneeds and interests of women and children<\/p>\n
8. A promotion of collective integration<\/p>\n
9. An end to "new imperialism," hegemony, and a promotion of
\ndialogues between nations<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muhammadiyah-seeks-an-end-to-new-imperialism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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