Govt must focus on majority of Muslim voices

Govt must focus on majority of Muslim voices

The voice of the mainstream among Muslims has not been
adequately conveyed here, despite the fact that Islam in
Indonesia has a tolerant face, says Azyumardi Azra, rector of the
IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic Studies Institute in Jakarta. He
talked to The Jakarta Post in interviews with Ati Nurbaiti and
Rikza Abdullah.

Question: You've said that the U.S. must stop the violence in
Afghanistan and come to the negotiating table, and that the
terrorist case should be brought to an international tribunal.
But President George W. Bush has said the campaign against
terrorism might continue for many years. What would be the
implications particularly in our society, with many Muslims
expressing antipathy towards the U.S.?

Answer: The U.S. should look at both its own interests as well
as its relations with countries with whom it has friendly ties,
including Indonesia.

With continued military strikes the attitude on the part of
moderate Muslims here has shifted (from restraint) to more
emotional ... anti U.S ...even though they're not on the streets
and are not supportive of the Taliban or Osama bin Laden. The
(strikes) are seen to contradict the U.S. policy of developing
democracy, particularly for countries in transition.

More (public) demands will be raised for the government to be
more assertive towards the U.S. while no one can guarantee the
protests will not turn to violence and chaos. This could lead to
destabilization and we would all lose out.

There is too much to lose with continued U.S. strikes.
Given such fears, what of our image as a country of "moderate"
Muslims?

Leaders of the main Muslim organizations, Hasyim Muzadi of
Nahdlatul Ulama and Syafii Ma'arif of Muhammadiyah, have tried to
give their perspectives, that "sweeping" (intimidation and forced
expulsion of Westerners) for instance, is not right, that
protests should not turn into violent rioting.

Yet such voices representing the mainstream, which is to say
the moderates, have not been strong enough ... (and) they would
be placed in a difficult position if the U.S. strikes and
confirmed casualties among civilians continue.

It is natural that people express solidarity with fellow
Muslims ... and a type of "David-Goliath" feeling could develop.

President Megawati (Soekarnoputri) should meet with Islamic
leaders, including the kyai (Muslim scholar/teacher) and
strengthen their voice, to balance the disproportionate media
attention being given to the "hardliners."

She cannot do it alone or simply leave it to the Minister of
Religious Affairs; it is the responsibility of all (to convey)
the fact that Islam is pluralistic, and tolerant.

There is much affinity between the stance of the government
and that of the moderates among Muslims. This stance must be
strengthened to give positive attention to not only mass
movements, but a more calming perspective.

But how should Muslims here retain a clear perspective of our
own problems while expressing solidarity with Afghans?

Muslims are taught that they must break the cycle of violence
with the principles of peace; that jihad (struggle in defense of
Islam), if you know it will fail, is tantamount to suicide and is
prohibited ...

We should extend help where we can and this has begun with
(private) and government aid to Afghanistan.

Then there are other obligations: The fardhu 'ain, the
responsibility of the individual, and the fardhu kifayah, the
responsibility to one's nearest environment -- meaning that if
you want to better the world you must start with yourself, your
household and neighborhood. Our own conflicts then, should be our
first priority.

Hopefully Muslims can maintain a clear agenda, also with the
help of the media, regarding problems inside the country and
regarding the ukuwah Islamiyah (worldwide Islamic community).
So when is war allowed according to Islamic teachings?

When negotiations are no longer possible. If there is any
conflict between parties, efforts must be directed toward the
achievement of peace. The efforts should be done in the form of
discussions, where strong evidence can be shown. When one party
is found guilty, a certain form of punishment can be determined.
That means that legal procedures must be followed and the related
parties are not allowed to take their own actions against the
other.
With our current difficulties does Indonesia, with the world's
largest Muslim population, really have the potential to achieve
the ideals of a "modern" Islamic society?

The image of Islam in Indonesia, and also Southeast Asia, is
pluralistic and tolerant; the image of "Islam with a smiling
face." But this has changed with the crisis here in the past
three years, leading to a sense of deprivation among many. The
majority remain moderate, regardless of emotional outbursts by a
few.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Megawati could revive
ASEAN's "sleeping giant" to mediate with the West -- as the war
is not really against Islam and we have little say in the
Organization of Islamic Conference -- and strive to have the war
stopped.

If not, we fear further economic and political instability in
Southeast Asia may well occur.

The West must also restrain itself -- earlier media reports
that the U.S. might target countries having links with al-Qaeda
were not productive. Based on our studies this is unlikely.

The expressions against the U.S. are genuine, the roots are in
America's handling of the Middle East problem.
Will Megawati's government, based on a "nationalist-religious"
coalition, be able to survive to 2004 in the current conditions?

The coalition of Megawati, representing a non-religious party,
and Hamzah Haz, a major Islamic party, would likely survive --
but it would not reach its main goals such as economic recovery.
The government's energy could be sapped (by focusing on the
emotionally charged issue of Afghanistan).

Despite their differences Hamzah is making adjustments; the
gap would not be as wide as the one that developed in the
relationship between (former president) Abdurrahman Wahid and
Megawati.