RI Muslim leaders in KL on peace mission
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Four Indonesian Muslim leaders are in Kuala Lumpur for talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to help mend fences following a border dispute between the two countries.
The visit by Said Aqiel Siradj of Nahdlatul Ulama, Din Syamsuddin of Muhammadyah, Cholil Badawi of the Indonesian Islamic Propagation Council and Nazri Adlani of the Indonesian Ulema's Council comes amid heightened tensions between Malaysia and Indonesia.
"We expect this meeting will take place in the spirit of Muslim brotherhood, and we believe that Pak Badawi will understand our mission," Said Aqiel told The Jakarta Post before departing for Malaysia on Sunday.
Malaysia chairs the Organization of Islamic Conference, of which Indonesia is a member.
The Indonesian Muslim leaders are scheduled to meet with Badawi on Monday, before holding talks with their Malaysian counterparts.
Indonesia and Malaysia have both staked claims to the Ambalat maritime area in the Sulawesi Sea. The area is believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.
Leaders of the two countries have said they want a peaceful settlement of the dispute, but both Indonesia and Malaysia have maintained a military presence in the disputed area.
In addition to warships, the Indonesian Navy has deployed members of an elite unit to the Karang Unarang reef in the Ambalat offshore area. They are there to help build a lighthouse to mark Indonesia's sovereignty over the territory.
The border dispute is one of the biggest tests of the close bilateral ties between Indonesia and Malaysia since a confrontation between the two countries in 1963 over areas of Borneo island, which the countries share.
Malaysia and Indonesia co-founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967.
Separately, Indonesian cleric Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid called on the government to show restraint and seek a peaceful solution to the dispute.
"Dialog is the best way to settle this problem. Don't be frightened, but don't attack Malaysia," the former president said as quoted by Antara.
Despite these calls for peace, about 100 people from the Suicide Force continued training in a forest in Sukojember village, Jember, East Java, for "war with Malaysia".
"We are preparing in case the state calls us to fight Malaysia. I expect more volunteers to take part in the training," said the group's leader, Yusuf Sumarno, adding that some 1,000 people had expressed interest in joining the group.
Holding sharp weapons and waving Indonesian flags, the volunteers went through a series of military exercises. They also drank what they called "holy water", which they said would give them supernatural powers.