Muslim leader promises frank discussion with Bush

Sri Wahyuni and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post Jakarta/Yogyakarta

One of the four prominent Muslims invited to meet U.S. President George W. Bush in Bali said on Sunday that he would ask him to change his foreign policies, especially those dealing with terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ahmad Syafii Maarif told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that it was better to face Bush directly "rather that just throw a fist (at him) from behind a mountain."

"This is exactly what I will do. I'll meet him face to face to say what I feel about the leader of the world's only superpower," Syafii said.

Syafii, who is also chairman of the country's second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, has been invited to meet President Bush in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday, along with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muslim preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar and Muslim scholar Azyumardi Arza.

He said Bush's foreign policy had been too pro-Israel.

"I will ask Bush not to continue his political adventure. He said in Manila recently, for example, that he wanted Australia to become the sheriff of Asia. I think it's a latter-day imperialistic adventure. It's an anachronism and would only suit the 17th or 18th century," Syafii said.

However, he held out little hope of a positive result from the meeting, but stressed that it was worth a try.

Even God told Prophet Musa to meet with Firaun, his enemy, and ordered him to speak softly to Firaun, Syafii said.

"But of course, I may not be that timid (in talking to Bush)," said Syafii, adding that he would try to speak very directly, candidly and clearly enough to convey his message.

"So, I do hope Bush will open his ears and heart widely, and listen to us sincerely," said Syafii, adding that he would also meet with U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce a day ahead of the planned meeting.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid expressed pessimism over Bush's visit to Indonesia on Wednesday, saying that it would serve only to further Bush's political campaign.

"This is simply a courtesy visit that may have little impact on the perceptions of either country. Indonesian people will not change their opinion about the United States simply because Bush has come here," Nurcholish told the Post on Sunday.

However, he said that for the sake of good relations it was good for Bush to hold a dialog with Indonesian Muslim leaders.

Bush is slated to make a brief, three-hour stopover in Bali on Oct. 22 as part of an Asia-Pacific tour that is also taking him to Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia.

During the stopover, Bush is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri and to meet with the four prominent Muslims.

Nurcholish said it would be good for Megawati also to listen to the Muslim leaders before she met with Bush.

"I do not think that his visit will have a huge impact because from what I've heard Bush will only ask about the state of U.S.- based companies in Indonesia," he said.