On the holy war
On the holy war
The Indonesian Ulemas Council has beaten the drum of jihad
(holy war) against speculators and hoarders of staple commodities
in an effort to protect the country from political and economic
pressures.
According to the council's statement, read by its chairman KH
Hasan Basri at the end of its three-day meeting Tuesday, the
practices are violations of Islamic law. The statement said the
war would be waged in cooperation with military authorities down
to provincial level.
During the current economic crisis, the police have appealed
to the community to report those suspected of hoarding staple
foods to the authorities. In several instances the police have
uncovered such practices following tip-offs from the public.
Condemnation from the council of those guilty of hoarding is
understandable, since the council was set up and developed by the
government. Criticism of those who aim to profit from general
suffering deserves support.
Indonesia is a predominantly Moslem country, yet despite the
many crises faced by the nation in recent history, rarely has a
call for jihad been heard. The current crisis has its roots in
corruption, high level collusion, nepotism and favoritism, which
over time eroded the foundations of our economy, leading
eventually to the spectacular slide in the rupiah and stock
market.
Corruption has become part of our very culture. Indonesia is
now considered the most corrupt country in Asia. Our corrupt
officials do not hide, but flaunt, the fruits of their corrupt
practices. They apparently expect people from all walks of life
to adapt to this new culture.
Nepotism has bred a new generation of business tycoons, with
no prior experience of business, who are now among the wealthiest
people in Asia. Every adult citizen knows these individuals
achieved their luxurious lifestyle and status not through their
own endeavors, but through the influence of their parents.
These practices helped push our nation to the edge of an
abyss, have promoted injustice and widened the gap between the
rich and the poor. This is fertile ground for communism.
These practices are also a breach of the people's trust and
scorn Islamic law. Officials beginning tenure in a new post
swear, on the Koran, the Muslim holy book, that they will not
accept gifts, bribes or any other form of coercion. The council
should have waged the holy war against them.
We also hope that the council's jihad is really aimed at all
that hinders attempts to heal our economic wounds, and is not
aimed at any particular ethnic or religious group. If it is, it
will not only jeopardize national unity, but will also betray the
historical reality of our nation, which consists of people from
myriad racial, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
At this time of crisis all leading figures are expected to
show sensitivity and insight. In this light we were glad to hear
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto's statement Monday, calling for
all to refrain from demonstrating racial, ethnic and religious
sentiments.