U.S. told to avoid military approach against radicalism

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A noted Indonesian Muslim figure said the source of religious radicalism in Indonesia was linked purely to domestic factors, including low education levels, poverty, the absence of social justice and the weak enforcement of law.

Syafiie Ma'arif, chairman of Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, told the U.S. government it was these factors and not international factors that had sparked the resurgence of radical movements in the country, especially in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

He suggested that the U.S. government focus attention on those problems in its struggle to fight against terrorism and radicalism, adding that education was a long-term investment in creating educated and moderate people.

"The U.S. government could provide scholarships and other educational assistance to help educate Indonesians," he said.

The assistance, in the form of financial and technical aid, could be delivered to help the country solve sectarian crises in several regions, prominently Poso in Central Sulawesi and Maluku.

Syafiie has just returned from the U.S. after attending the Trilateral Commission, an annual conference for scholars in the Asia Pacific region in Washington.

Previously, other Indonesian Muslim figures Hasyim Muzadi, who also chairs Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Alwi Shihab were invited to the U.S. to speak about radical Muslim groups in Indonesia.

Syafiie's visit to the U.S. was initially scheduled several months ago along with Hasyim, but Syafiie's trip was canceled as it coincided with his plan to perform a haj pilgrimage.

NU claims a membership of about 40 million, while Muhammadiyah 30 million.

During his America trip, Syafiie delivered speeches on the latest developments of radical groups in Indonesia during the April 3 to April 8 conference sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Syafiie also met several key figures in the U.S. government, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolwofitz, Deputy Secretary of State for Asia Pacific James Kelly and Deputy Secretary of National Security Steven Hadley.

Syafiie urged the U.S. government to abandon its military approach in its fight against radical Muslim movements in Indonesia. The military approach, he said, was not suitable because it could not help tackle the core problem of religious radicalism and terrorism.

The U.S. government needed to identify the sources of radicalism and employ a strategy to deal with the problem, he said.

He said the radical Muslim movements in Indonesia had no connection whatsoever to international terrorist networks, including Al-Qaeda.

"It is widely perceived by the U.S. public that international terrorist networks and radical Muslim movements in Indonesia are connected to each other.

"It should be continuously explained to them that this perception is grossly wrong," Syafiie said.

During his visit to the U.S., Syafiie convinced the U.S. public not to worry about the rising radical Muslim movements in Indonesia.

The movement, as represented by Laskar Jihad and the Islam Defenders' Front, was small and the minority, he said.

If they looked "big", that was due to their outspokenness and coverage by the media, he said.

Syafiie said that the majority of Indonesian Muslims, as represented by the mainstream NU and Muhammadiyah, were moderate.