Moderate Muslims oppose 'sweep' threat

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of mainstream Muslim groups have opposed a threat by hardline groups to conduct a "sweep" of American citizens in Indonesia if the United States attacks Afghanistan.

They said nonviolent means, such as peaceful demonstrations, were acceptable to protest at U.S. actions, but that forcing U.S. citizens out of the country would be an improper way to treat "guests".

"We don't need to expel U.S. citizens, staging protests would be enough. Indonesia is an open country," said Imam Addaruqutni, chairman of the youth group of Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim organization.

He was commenting on a plan by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) to conduct a sweep of American citizens if Washington attacks Afghanistan, which is believed to be harboring Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

A co-chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Amidhan, also expressed opposition to the plan.

"Why should they launch raids? It would be OK to stage peaceful rallies, but not raids," Amidhan told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday.

He said the group should stage protests instead of launching raids, which would be unduly disruptive.

"Personally, I disagree with that plan. Anyway, we don't actually know what their real plan is," he said.

With U.S. Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard requesting police protection for U.S. citizens and interests in the country on Friday, some Americans in Jakarta are already rethinking their personal security.

Chicago native "Jenny", who works at an American organization, said she has switched to "plan B" in the last few days. It's a plan she has used at other tense times during her three years here, such as when there was public anger at Australians during the East Timor crisis.

"I am looking at personal security, at my pattern of behavior. So, going by car instead of walking, going out in groups," said Jenny, who is in her early 40s and lives in Central Jakarta.

"We're used to it here, but then again I've never felt that safe in New York or Washington D.C."

Another American expatriate, Rick, who has worked in the country for four years, said he was concerned by the situation but hoped "cooler heads would prevail".

"I'm keeping my eye more on the news than I usually would and I certainly remember when the Solo sweeps occurred," the 32-year- old said, referring to actions taken by a vigilante group in Surakarta last year.

"But I have yet to feel personally threatened. I'm hopeful that Americans and Indonesians will continue to have good relations on a citizen-to-citizen level."

Both Jenny and Rick said they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Indonesian friends over the Sept. 11 attacks. However, they were also mindful of the possible repercussions, especially in the world's largest Islamic country, if the U.S. decides, in Jenny's words, to "bomb the s***" out of Afghanistan.

"Although I feel the U.S. government has been trying to distinguish that it is trying to punish the terrorists for the attacks and not seeking a war with the Islamic world, I think those (messages) are sometimes lost in the rhetoric and emotional fever pitch," Rick said.

"I'm hoping that statesmen will step back and see that these distinctions are being lost ..."

Evacuation

The possibility of evacuation is also on their minds. Jenny said companies were talking about the logistics of moving out of the country, such as where to go and how much it would cost, if the U.S. Embassy orders its citizens to leave.

The irony of her situation here and that of her Arab-American friends back home is not lost on Jenny.

"When the WTC was bombed a few years back they (Arab- Americans) went through so much, a lot of persecution, now I'm reading a lot about it happening again. I hate that, I feel so disappointed."

A 46-year-old American woman married to an Indonesian said she had never been afraid of her Indonesian neighbors.

"I am not scared. Indonesians are good people. The threat was only a political move by certain groups. They are paid to launch raids," the woman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

She added that her family in the U.S. had called her to return home, but she refused to do so. "I told them that I was fine," she said.

"Of course anyone can have their own opinion, but I am not scared," she added. (brc/08)