United for peace

Indonesia can count its blessings that we are united in opposing the war in Iraq. The government and the majority of the people are as one in their attitude toward this senseless war. This was the case even before the United States launched the military campaign in Iraq on Thursday, and remains so today.

In many countries, including some in this region, governments that support the United States are at odds with their own people. Not only are they having to explain their position to their people, but they also have to deal with violent demonstrations.

Indonesia is fortunate because we do not have to confront this problem, which would have the potential of dividing the nation and creating political instability.

It is also heartening to see that opposition to the war is widespread, coming not only from one section of the community. Muslims in Indonesia have joined hands with people of other faiths in denouncing the U.S. military aggression in Iraq.

This war is rightly seen as an attack against humanity, and therefore against the values of just about all religions that preach peace. You do not have to be a Muslim to feel horrified at the sight of Iraqis living under the terror of constant U.S. bombings, or of Iraqis fleeing the war in fear.

Inevitably, many Muslims in Indonesia feel a strong bond with their brothers and sisters in Iraq, but then, so do people of other faiths. There is a sizable minority of Iraqi Christians who are equally suffering during the current war.

This war, therefore, should be seen as not solely an attack on Muslims and therefore on Islam, but as an attack against all religions, and the values that they represent.

The government must be commended for coming out with a firm, yet measured statement within hours after the U.S. launched the military campaign in Iraq on Thursday. Choosing its words carefully, the government deplored the unjustified U.S. military aggression in Iraq, and called on the United Nations to act.

It did not condemn the action, and rightly so.

Outright condemnation would have automatically cut all lines of communication with Washington and thus prevent Jakarta from conducting some effective peace diplomacy.

Condemnation would have seen the severing, or at least straining, of our overall relations, and not just government-to- government, with all its consequences.

The government's swift response was specifically targeted at the policy of the U.S. government, and not at the friendly American people, or American corporations and investors that have helped to build the Indonesian economy all this time.

Let's also not forget that there is a growing antiwar movement inside the United States with which we can cooperate. If there is still any force that can still stop this war -- after the United Nations Security Council failed to do the job -- it is American public opinion.

The Indonesian government, not known for its leadership skills in the past, has for once done the right thing in taking the initiative and in showing the nation the way to respond. And President Megawati Soekarnoputri made the point of reading the statement herself, instead of delegating the task to one of her aides.

Compare this with the indecisiveness evident in the government's response to the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan in October 2001. The confusion allowed small and radical groups, which did not represent the majority, to take center stage in the public opinion domain, and turn the Afghanistan war into a "West against Islam" issue. Such a reactionary response, which included calls for violent reprisals against American interests, was detrimental to Indonesia's overall national interests. It sowed divisions among the people along religious lines and threatened stability.

This time, the government showed that Indonesia could remain true to its humanitarianism principle -- the second pillar in the state ideology Pancasila -- without sacrificing national interests, political stability, or Indonesia's reputation.

Other groups who feel that the government's response was not strong enough are free to air their own views directly. Some of these groups may enjoy the luxury of condemning the United States without fearing the repercussions.

One thing they should not do, however, is to use violence or intimidation. This would amount to a violation of the law, and the police thankfully are already on full alert to take the necessary steps to clamp down on violent acts.

Calls for a boycott of American products would be detrimental, since most of these goods, like McDonald's and Coca Cola, are produced locally, employ Indonesian workers and use Indonesian materials.

Violence, destructive acts and boycotts would not only be ineffective in stopping the war, but they would ultimately hurt Indonesia more than they would anybody else.

Indonesia must respond to this war in no uncertain terms. And when we do, we must choose our words carefully, restraining from endorsing violence, and most of all, always keeping our national interests in mind.

Let us all join hands in opposing the war in a peaceful manner, and let each one of us do our part in this campaign, whether through diplomacy, public opinion, or prayer.