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.