United for peace<\/p>\n
Indonesia can count its blessings that we are united in
\nopposing the war in Iraq. The government and the majority of the
\npeople are as one in their attitude toward this senseless war.
\nThis was the case even before the United States launched the
\nmilitary campaign in Iraq on Thursday, and remains so today.<\/p>\n
In many countries, including some in this region, governments
\nthat support the United States are at odds with their own people.
\nNot only are they having to explain their position to their
\npeople, but they also have to deal with violent demonstrations.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is fortunate because we do not have to confront this
\nproblem, which would have the potential of dividing the nation
\nand creating political instability.<\/p>\n
It is also heartening to see that opposition to the war is
\nwidespread, coming not only from one section of the community.
\nMuslims in Indonesia have joined hands with people of other
\nfaiths in denouncing the U.S. military aggression in Iraq.<\/p>\n
This war is rightly seen as an attack against humanity, and
\ntherefore against the values of just about all religions that
\npreach peace. You do not have to be a Muslim to feel horrified at
\nthe sight of Iraqis living under the terror of constant U.S.
\nbombings, or of Iraqis fleeing the war in fear.<\/p>\n
Inevitably, many Muslims in Indonesia feel a strong bond with
\ntheir brothers and sisters in Iraq, but then, so do people of
\nother faiths. There is a sizable minority of Iraqi Christians who
\nare equally suffering during the current war.<\/p>\n
This war, therefore, should be seen as not solely an attack on
\nMuslims and therefore on Islam, but as an attack against all
\nreligions, and the values that they represent.<\/p>\n
The government must be commended for coming out with a firm,
\nyet measured statement within hours after the U.S. launched the
\nmilitary campaign in Iraq on Thursday. Choosing its words
\ncarefully, the government deplored the unjustified U.S. military
\naggression in Iraq, and called on the United Nations to act.<\/p>\n
It did not condemn the action, and rightly so.<\/p>\n
Outright condemnation would have automatically cut all lines
\nof communication with Washington and thus prevent Jakarta from
\nconducting some effective peace diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Condemnation would have seen the severing, or at least
\nstraining, of our overall relations, and not just government-to-
\ngovernment, with all its consequences.<\/p>\n
The government's swift response was specifically targeted at
\nthe policy of the U.S. government, and not at the friendly
\nAmerican people, or American corporations and investors that have
\nhelped to build the Indonesian economy all this time.<\/p>\n
Let's also not forget that there is a growing antiwar movement
\ninside the United States with which we can cooperate. If there is
\nstill any force that can still stop this war -- after the United
\nNations Security Council failed to do the job -- it is American
\npublic opinion.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government, not known for its leadership skills
\nin the past, has for once done the right thing in taking the
\ninitiative and in showing the nation the way to respond. And
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri made the point of reading the
\nstatement herself, instead of delegating the task to one of her
\naides.<\/p>\n
Compare this with the indecisiveness evident in the
\ngovernment's response to the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan
\nin October 2001. The confusion allowed small and radical groups,
\nwhich did not represent the majority, to take center stage in the
\npublic opinion domain, and turn the Afghanistan war into a \"West
\nagainst Islam\" issue. Such a reactionary response, which included
\ncalls for violent reprisals against American interests, was
\ndetrimental to Indonesia's overall national interests. It sowed
\ndivisions among the people along religious lines and threatened
\nstability.<\/p>\n
This time, the government showed that Indonesia could remain
\ntrue to its humanitarianism principle -- the second pillar in the
\nstate ideology Pancasila -- without sacrificing national
\ninterests, political stability, or Indonesia's reputation.<\/p>\n
Other groups who feel that the government's response was not
\nstrong enough are free to air their own views directly. Some of
\nthese groups may enjoy the luxury of condemning the United States
\nwithout fearing the repercussions.<\/p>\n
One thing they should not do, however, is to use violence or
\nintimidation. This would amount to a violation of the law, and
\nthe police thankfully are already on full alert to take the
\nnecessary steps to clamp down on violent acts.<\/p>\n
Calls for a boycott of American products would be detrimental,
\nsince most of these goods, like McDonald's and Coca Cola, are
\nproduced locally, employ Indonesian workers and use Indonesian
\nmaterials.<\/p>\n
Violence, destructive acts and boycotts would not only be
\nineffective in stopping the war, but they would ultimately hurt
\nIndonesia more than they would anybody else.<\/p>\n
Indonesia must respond to this war in no uncertain terms. And
\nwhen we do, we must choose our words carefully, restraining from
\nendorsing violence, and most of all, always keeping our national
\ninterests in mind.<\/p>\n
Let us all join hands in opposing the war in a peaceful
\nmanner, and let each one of us do our part in this campaign,
\nwhether through diplomacy, public opinion, or prayer.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/united-for-peace-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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