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