Indonesian Muslims told to unite and promote peace

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Muslim leaders on Tuesday urged Muslims across the country to maintain their commitment to peace despite the global antiterrorism jitters that have hit them hard.

Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who chairs the Tanfidziyah advisory body of the Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said in his statement ahead of Idul Fitri that Indonesian Muslims should use the momentum of the holiday to promote their peaceful persona among other religious communities.

"Muslims in Indonesia should not be affected by this (terrorism) issue which might be aimed at tarnishing our image. All we can do is to promote peace as our personality," Gus Dur, the country's former president, said.

Muslims across the world will celebrate Idul Fitri after a full month of fasting and self restraint either on Thursday or Friday. The holiday is usually highlighted by reconciliation, with Muslims offering forgiveness to each other.

The holiday comes in against the backdrop of the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, which killed nearly 200 people, mostly foreigners. The blasts have resulted in mounting international pressure on Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, to take more initiatives to combat terrorism.

In connection with the probe into the bomb attack, Indonesian police have scoured certain Islamic boarding schools believed to be harboring the alleged perpetrators of the carnage.

The police also arrested Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who many say is the spiritual leader of Jamaah Islamiyah, the outlawed organization accused of committing terrorist acts.

Ba'asyir is implicated in several bomb attacks in 2000 and a plot to kill then vice president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Sharing Gus Dur's view was Irvan Zidni, deputy chairman of NU's sharia lawmaking body, who called on Indonesian Muslims to remain united during this trying period when Islam has come under international pressure.

"We (Muslim people) are supposed to focus on efforts to maintain the country's unity, so that we can help this nation to recover as people with dignity.

"God willing, this country will survive further tribulation if we, the Muslim people, realize that the unity among ourselves and among other religious communities is our priority," Irvan said.

NU is widely known as the largest Muslim organization in the country, boasting 40 million followers.

Separately, Ahmad Sjafii Maarif, chairman of the country's second largest Muslim group Muhammadiyah, warned Indonesian Muslims against overreacting to what he called an unjust situation, saying it would be counterproductive.

"The terrorism issue, in many cases, has damaged the image of Islam and put us at the crossroads of a dangerous period in history. Some of us believe that it (terrorism) has been taking place due to unfair practices in the world.

"Nevertheless, we should not be emotional. We have to be patient and refrain from retaliating because it will further worsen the image of Islam," Sjafii told The Jakarta Post.

Sjafii admitted that several Islamic groups in the world were thinking of retaliation, and that such retaliation "has brought the future of Islam to its lowest point."

"Instead of thinking about retaliation, I suggest Indonesia's Muslims, as well as all Muslims in the world, remain cool. Reacting emotionally is not the answer.

"We supposedly learn -- even from our enemy -- how to improve our knowledge of technology so that we can stand equally with other modern countries in this world," Sjafii said.

Meanwhile, Rev. AA Yewangoe of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) expressed hope that after the end of the Ramadhan fasting month, Indonesian Muslims could share their blessings with everyone.

"This country has long been trapped in various sectarian conflicts. We hope God will bless this country through our Muslims brothers and sisters following Idul Fitri," Yewangoe said.