U.S. urged to stop Afghan war<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several Islamic organizations called on the United States on
\nThursday to stop its military campaign in Afghanistan, saying
\nthat there had to be a more peaceful way of capturing suspected
\nterrorist Osama bin Laden.<\/p>\n
Representatives of 19 Muslim groups met with the U.S.
\nAmbassador to Indonesia, Ralph L. Boyce, at the headquarters of
\nMuhammadiyah, Indonesia's second largest Islamic organization.<\/p>\n
\"At the meeting, we demanded that the U.S. stop its attacks on
\nAfghanistan, not only during Ramadhan, but from now on and ever
\nafter,\" Muhammadiyah leader Dien Syamsuddin said afterwards.<\/p>\n
Also present at the meeting were leaders of Muslim groups that
\nhave taken a hard-line stance against the U.S., such as the Ahlul
\nSunnah Wal Jamaah Communication Forum and the Laskar Jihad group.<\/p>\n
Other groups represented included the Indonesian Committee for
\nIslamic World Solidarity (Kisdi), the Indonesian Islamic
\nOrganization (PII), the Justice Party, the Crescent and Star
\nParty, the National Mandate Party and the Indonesian Mosque
\nCouncil.<\/p>\n
Representatives of Kisdi, PII and Laskar Jihad handed
\nAmbassador Boyce a letter for U.S. President George W. Bush, in
\nwhich they called for an end to the U.S. bombing campaign in
\nAfghanistan and the restoration of peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Many Muslim organizations in Indonesia have protested at the
\nU.S. military campaign against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan,
\nwhich the United States accused of harboring bin Laden and his
\nal-Qaeda organization.<\/p>\n
But the demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta,
\nwhich were daily occurrences when the bombing began on Oct. 7,
\nhave become far less frequent in recent weeks. Earlier threats by
\nsmall but vocal Muslim groups to evict Americans and U.S.
\ninterests in Indonesia failed to materialize.<\/p>\n
Boyce, who presented his credentials to President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri last month, told the meeting that he would convey
\nall the views expressed to Washington.<\/p>\n
\"I will faithfully convey the feelings, views and thoughts
\nexpressed here today to our government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the U.S. would rebuild Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Boyce, whose previous diplomatic postings included
\npredominantly Islam countries like Iran and Tunisia, also
\nreassured the participants of the meeting that the U.S. military
\ncampaign against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan should not be
\nconstrued as an attack against Islam and Muslims, but against
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
The ambassador said he hoped communications between him and
\nvarious Muslim groups in Indonesia would continue.<\/p>\n
Dien, who is also secretary-general of the Indonesian Ulemas
\nCouncil (MUI), lauded Boyce's promise to convey the groups'
\naspirations and hoped the U.S. would heed their demands.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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