United for peace

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.