Moslems to blame for no political clout

Moslems to blame for no political clout

JAKARTA (JP): Moslems are to blame for their perceived
marginal roles in international and domestic political arenas,
experts agreed yesterday.

Ahmad Sumargono, Muhammad Al Khaththath, M. Fachry and Ismail
Yusanto, all from organizations and centers for Islamic studies,
expressed their concerns with the plight of Moslem communities
around the world and the impotence of Moslem states in dealing
with the problems.

Speaking in a panel discussion, the scholars also lashed out
at several Western countries and international organizations for
their foot-dragging attitudes in the face of many armed conflicts
involving Moslem communities.

Ismail, who is also a staff lecturer at the Ibn Khaldun Moslem
University in Bogor, West Java, pointed out that Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) members, many of which are Moslem states, have
called for greater representation at the United Nations and the
revision of the Security Council's veto power.

The moves, if implemented, are expected to give greater say to
Moslem states in international matters, though Ismail doubts the
veto-power holders would allow such a drastic measure.

Many Moslem states are also disillusioned when they turn to
the other Moslem countries for help, he said.

International bodies such as the Organization of Islamic
Conference and the Rabithah Al Alam Al Islamy (Islamic World
League) have so far failed to respond properly to cases such as
the prolonged wars in Palestine, Bosnia Herzegovina and Chechnya,
Ismail said.

"The oppression and occupation by Israel of Palestine have
been ignored by those who call themselves leaders of Moslem
countries," Ismail said harshly. "Where are the dignity and
Moslem brotherhood that they have been speaking about?"

Most of the speakers agreed that Moslems should first return
to their religious roots, and put their homes in order, before
redressing the backwardness of Moslem societies.

"The internal factor causing this backwardness is because many
Moslems don't implement the teachings and..are influenced by
secularism," Ismail said.

Al Khaththath said that Moslems should first pay closer
attention to developments in international politics if they want
to seize a greater role.

"Moslems, especially the politicians and intellectuals, should
examine the political plans and maneuvers of great countries," he
said. "This examination should be done continuously, because the
arena does not have clear-cut lines."

Only by constant watchfulness can Moslems follow and
understand what's happening in the world. They must propagate
religious callings based on knowledge and political reality.

He also called for more appropriate political education for
Moslems, one not necessarily based on Western concepts, and for a
better information network. He also suggested that Moslem
communities prepare their children to become good political
analysts.

Sumargono used the occasion yesterday to also criticize those
Moslems fighting among themselves over differing political views.
This fact contributes to the Moslems' poor standing in
international politics, he said. (swe)