Muslim leader promises frank discussion with Bush<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni and
\nFabiola Desy Unidjaja
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
One of the four prominent Muslims invited to meet U.S. President
\nGeorge W. Bush in Bali said on Sunday that he would ask him to
\nchange his foreign policies, especially those dealing with
\nterrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Syafii Maarif told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that it
\nwas better to face Bush directly "rather that just throw a fist
\n(at him) from behind a mountain."<\/p>\n
"This is exactly what I will do. I'll meet him face to face to
\nsay what I feel about the leader of the world's only superpower,"
\nSyafii said.<\/p>\n
Syafii, who is also chairman of the country's second-largest
\nMuslim organization, Muhammadiyah, has been invited to meet
\nPresident Bush in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday, along with
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muslim preacher
\nAbdullah Gymnastiar and Muslim scholar Azyumardi Arza.<\/p>\n
He said Bush's foreign policy had been too pro-Israel.<\/p>\n
"I will ask Bush not to continue his political adventure. He
\nsaid in Manila recently, for example, that he wanted Australia to
\nbecome the sheriff of Asia. I think it's a latter-day
\nimperialistic adventure. It's an anachronism and would only suit
\nthe 17th or 18th century," Syafii said.<\/p>\n
However, he held out little hope of a positive result from the
\nmeeting, but stressed that it was worth a try.<\/p>\n
Even God told Prophet Musa to meet with Firaun, his enemy, and
\nordered him to speak softly to Firaun, Syafii said.<\/p>\n
"But of course, I may not be that timid (in talking to Bush),"
\nsaid Syafii, adding that he would try to speak very directly,
\ncandidly and clearly enough to convey his message.<\/p>\n
"So, I do hope Bush will open his ears and heart widely, and
\nlisten to us sincerely," said Syafii, adding that he would also
\nmeet with U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce a day ahead
\nof the planned meeting.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid
\nexpressed pessimism over Bush's visit to Indonesia on Wednesday,
\nsaying that it would serve only to further Bush's political
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
"This is simply a courtesy visit that may have little impact
\non the perceptions of either country. Indonesian people will not
\nchange their opinion about the United States simply because Bush
\nhas come here," Nurcholish told the Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
However, he said that for the sake of good relations it was
\ngood for Bush to hold a dialog with Indonesian Muslim leaders.<\/p>\n
Bush is slated to make a brief, three-hour stopover in Bali on
\nOct. 22 as part of an Asia-Pacific tour that is also taking him
\nto Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia.<\/p>\n
During the stopover, Bush is scheduled to hold bilateral talks
\nwith President Megawati Soekarnoputri and to meet with the four
\nprominent Muslims.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish said it would be good for Megawati also to listen
\nto the Muslim leaders before she met with Bush.<\/p>\n
"I do not think that his visit will have a huge impact because
\nfrom what I've heard Bush will only ask about the state of U.S.-
\nbased companies in Indonesia," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muslim-leader-promises-frank-discussion-with-bush-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}