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.