Top Muslim leaders stress aid, not violence

Top Muslim leaders stress aid, not violence

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Islamic leaders here called on Indonesians to focus their
attention on humanitarian concerns in Afghanistan rather than
religious solidarity as over a million Afghans have taken flight
in fear of a possible U.S. military strike.

"It would be more sympathetic if Indonesian Muslims deal with
the real problems facing the Afghan people," said Syafi'i Maarif,
chairman of the second largest Islamic organization,
Muhammadiyah, on Saturday.

The United Nations estimate about 1.5 million people have fled
Afghanistan following the U.S. threat to attack Afghanistan if it
fails to relinquish Osama bin Laden, who Washington has named as
the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks on American landmarks.

The UN has sought US$584 million to help some 7.5 million
Afghans from October to March. It has also estimated that about
20,000 Afghans have crossed over into Pakistan in the past two
weeks.

Syafi'i said Islamic organizations in Indonesia could show
their support for Afghans through collecting donations, without
any regard to whether the U.S. attacks Afghanistan or not.

"The Afghan people are destitute. Their condition is worsening
because they are forced to leave their country out of fear of a
U.S. military strike," Syafi'i told The Jakarta Post.

"Our solidarity should be addressed to those who are suffering
by sending them food, medicine, nurses and doctors," he said,
adding that the aid was more important than jihad forces.

Syafi'i also called on all Muslim groups to stop unlawful
activities, such as conducting searches for foreigners, as it
could worsen the image of Indonesia in the eyes of the
international community.

He called on the United States to reconsider its plan to
attack Afghanistan as it could spark a violent reaction from
Islamic nations.

Syafi'i said that he had met with ambassadors of the U.S.,
Britain and Canada. Syafi'i said he had told them during the
meeting that attacking Afghanistan without showing any evidence
of Osama's involvement would cause new problems.

"We have all agreed to combat terrorism, but not in attacking
a country like Afghanistan as it could cause serious humanitarian
problems," he added.

Salahuddin Wahid, an executive of the largest Islamic
organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), called for Indonesians to
show their solidarity by addressing the real issues.

He said support for Afghans could be shown by sending food and
clothes, and not by registering to become part of a jihad force.

"I don't think we have the capability of sending persons to
Afghanistan. To go there, we need money and we should also have
skills to fight in a war zone," he said, adding that their
presence may cause problems for the Afghans.

"Although we also have problems with refugees at home, there
is nothing wrong with also helping them (the Afghans),"
Salahuddin said.

Chairman of the militant Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement
(GPII) Askodar said actions aimed at preventing a U.S. strike on
Afghanistan must continue, but Indonesian Muslims must not ignore
the fate of displaced people.

"There is something more significant which deserves our
attention rather than only holding protests against the U.S.,"
said Askodar, adding that his organization, together with several
others, had sent aid to refugees there. He declined to say what
that aid was.

Askodar, whose organization has been actively involved in
anti-U.S. demonstrations, also said they were ready to shelter
any Afghan refugees that come to Indonesia.