Leaders blame U.S foreign policy

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

Five religious leaders of different faiths told U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday that his foreign policy was to blame for growing radicalism among Muslim communities.

The leaders told Bush that if he wanted the support of Muslim countries for his war on terror, his policies would have to change.

Muslim leader Syafii Maarif said they told Bush he had to come up with a new paradigm to solve international conflicts if he wanted to stem growing anti-Americanism around the globe.

"We told him U.S. foreign policy should seek a new paradigm if the U.S. wants to be respected by the world community and be safe," said Syafii, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim organization with some 30 million members.

During his three-hour stopover in Bali, President Bush met with Syafii, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra, Indonesian Churches Council chairman Rev. Nathan Setiabudi and Hindu leader Ida Pedande Made Gunung.

The meeting, originally scheduled to run for 30 minutes, lasted for almost one hour. During the meeting, the religious leaders told Bush that U.S. policies in the Middle East were one of the main causes of terror attacks.

Hasyim said they also told Bush not to equate terrorism with Islam.

"Never link terrorism with Islam because it will only open the door to more radicalism. It is not Islam that creates radicalism; it is injustice around the world," said Hasyim, the leader of the country's largest Muslim organization, the NU, with about 40 million members.

Hasyim said the use of the word "crusade" by Bush in a speech in the early days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington was proof that Washington related terrorism with religion.

"He (Bush) said that it was a mistake (to use the term) and will never do it again," Syafii said.

Rev. Nathan said the religious leaders also pointed out that America, as the world's only superpower, should bear the greatest responsibility for making the world a better place.

"Like it or not it is a fact that America is the world's most powerful country, but it has to remember that it carries a moral responsibility toward the world," Nathan said.

The religious leaders said they came away with a positive impression of the meeting, and hoped that it would have an impact on the decision-making process in the United States.

"We see that he (Bush) had the good intention of having a frank and candid discussion with us, although we cannot expect it to change American policy. This is not an overnight process," Syafii said.

Azyumardi said Bush seemed to understand the point of view of the Indonesians.

During a press conference, President Bush said he was delighted for the opportunity to have the discussion, saying the religious leaders were "sustaining Indonesia's tradition of tolerance and moderation".

"Murder has no place in any religion and must find no home in Indonesia," he said, adding that diversity is a source of strength for both Indonesia and America.

"Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which is professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that Islam is fully compatible with liberty and tolerance and progress, because we see the proof in your country and in our own," Bush said.

He further said that Washington would provide US$157 million to be disbursed over six years to support elementary education in Indonesia as part of the effort to eradicate radicalism.