Interfaith group to meet pope to oppose Iraq war

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An Indonesian delegation of religious leaders left for the Vatican and Brussels on Tuesday to convey opposition to the U.S. stance against Iraq.

The interfaith group is due to meet Pope John Paul II and members of the European Union parliament to strengthen the international peace movement against Washington's war plans, but underlined that they were not campaigning against the American people.

"This is not a campaign against Americans. What we oppose is the U.S. policy that serves the interests of President George W. Bush," delegation member Nurcholish Madjid said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media after meeting Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, the noted Muslim scholar said it was a shame that the U.S., considered a champion of democracy, planned a violent, undemocratic act.

"We are not addressing opposition of the American people, but against the policy of Bush, who for some reason is ready to sacrifice his own people," Nurcholish said.

The interfaith delegation is led by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja and includes Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif, Protestant minister Natan Setiabudi, Hindu leader I Nyoman Suwanda and Buddhist leader Supeno Alidjurnawan.

"We will meet the pope to convey our opinion that war is against humanity and could only destroy humankind," the cardinal said on Tuesday.

Hasyim Muzadi said the interfaith group also conveyed its peace message to the people of Iraq and urged the country to disarm.

"Iraq should resume projecting an image of being the center of knowledge, and not a center of weapons," Hasyim underlined.

Hasyim also revealed the result of a recent trip to Australia for the same purpose, saying he saw hope that Australia was ready to change its support of aggression against Iraq.

"I think our meeting with Australian officials was a constructive meeting as they finally decided to reconsider their support of the U.S.," Hasyim said.

During the visit, Hasyim was accompanied by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja and Andreas Yewangoe of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI).

Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim country, was hit by anti-American protests in 2001 when a U.S.-led coalition attacked Afghanistan for allegedly harboring Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

The protests prompted the U.S. government to issue travel warnings against visiting Indonesia and demand extra security for its interests here.

Similar anti-American sentiment is likely to recur should Bush go ahead with an attack on Iraq for allegedly developing weapons of mass destruction.