MUI softens stance on RI-U.S. diplomatic ties
MUI softens stance on RI-U.S. diplomatic ties
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has softened its demand
that the Indonesian government freeze diplomatic ties with the
U.S. in protest of the American military campaign in Afghanistan.
"It's only a symbolic demand to make Indonesia independent
from the hegemony of any world power," MUI secretary Din
Syamsuddin said after meeting with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Tuesday.
MUI clarified its stand on the diplomatic front in the U.S.-
Afghan conflict amid mounting criticism of many militant Muslim
groups' demand that Indonesia freeze or even sever diplomatic
relations with the U.S..
MUI, which groups a number of Islamic organizations, came
under attack when it condoned calls for a jihad to support
Afghanistan in the name of religious solidarity.
Critics say that severing diplomatic ties would only bring
more harm to Indonesia, which remains heavily dependent on
international aid to survive the crippling economic crisis.
In their meeting with Megawati, MUI leaders urged the
government to take a more neutral stand in international affairs.
"Indonesia should be more independent from world powers as
Bung Karno (Indonesia's first president Sukarno) always strived
for," Din said.
But Megawati, Sukarno's daughter, said that Indonesia had a
long way to go before it could become independent and that
Indonesian Muslims should be patient.
The MUI officials also praised Megawati's statement expressing
opposition to the notion of trying to eliminate violence with
violence -- an apparent criticism of the U.S. strike on
Afghanistan.
"What the government should do is work out how to put it into
practice," Din said.
Din also claimed that Megawati could understand local Muslims'
calls for jihad, or holy war, as an expression of sympathy for
their fellow Muslims in Afghanistan.
The President stressed, however, that the jihad should not be
narrowed to the interpretation of physical war, but rather jihad
in its fundamental meaning, striving against evil and ignorance
for the common good.
In a related development, British Ambassador Richard Gozney
met with MUI officials on Tuesday to explain his government's
position on the Afghan issue.
Gozney reiterated that Britain considered the allied attacks
on Afghanistan a common war against terrorism and no religious
sentiment was involved.
MUI chairman Amidhan told journalists after the meeting that
he could accept Gozney's explanation.