Bush and the Indonesian Muslims

Bush and the Indonesian Muslims

Four top Indonesian Muslim leaders are scheduled to meet with
U.S. President George W. Bush when the latter arrives in the
island resort of Bali on Oct. 22.

The Muslim figures concerned are the chairmen of the Muslim
organizations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah -- Hasyim Muzadi
and A. Syafii Maarif, respectively -- along with rector of the
Jakarta State Islamic University Azyumardi Azra, and chief of the
Daarut Tauhid Islamic boarding school Abdullah Gymnastiar (Aa
Gym).

The meeting is of course important in improving mutual
understanding between the U.S. government and the Muslim
community, especially that in Indonesia.

Bush has repeatedly said he is not gunning for Moslems in
general, but only for terrorism. However, anti-terrorism
discourses directed by the U.S. at certain Muslim groups, have
left a terrible stigma among Muslims.

U.S. accusations that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda group was
behind the attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) and that Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, have
never been proven to be true.

Hence, the Muslim community and the governments of Muslim
countries have come to think that they are being treated unfairly
by the U.S.

Thus, the four leaders are expected to represent the
Indonesian Muslims in conveying their aspirations to Bush.

Whatever excuses Bush will make, we all hope that there would
be a new mutual understanding between the U.S. government and the
Indonesian Muslims for better relations between the two
countries.

-- Republika, Jakarta