Leaders blame U.S foreign policy

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.