War on terrorism must be within limits of the law
The global fight against terrorism has become a sensitive political/religious issue between the West and the Muslim world. German Christian scholar Gudrun Kramer, a professor of Islamic studies at Free University in Berlin, talked to The Jakarta Post's Muhammad Nafik on Friday in Jakarta.
Question: Many say the U.S. has gone too far in the global fight against terrorism as it has abused human rights and suppressed public liberties. Your comments?
Answer: The Americans are pushing for force in driving the fight against terrorism all over the world. Therefore, it creates difficulties in some countries because their definition of terrorism is not shared by some countries. It's not clear either. They sometimes classify terrorist groups, while others would call them just radicals or nationalists fighting for national liberation. Obviously, the strong pressure on the part of the American government on other governments would create domestic problems and resentment in certain countries, including Indonesia, because this nation doesn't really want to have that much outside pressure, nor do some African countries. There is a big danger of this crusade against terrorism that every government is tempted to declare its critics and opponents terrorists. Some of them may be armed to fight against terrorism, and may say, 'if the Americans can do it, we can do it as well'.
Q: So how to stop this?
A: You can only act on a national level. Speak about Indonesia, you have to take a clear stance that we will not just call anyone a terrorist who we do not like. We should have a different kind of definition of terrorism. If we deal with secessionism, it does not necessarily mean terrorism. It's a different matter and we will deal with it within the limit of the law. So the fight against terrorism must continue, but it must be within the limit of the law in order not to suppress public liberties and political participation in the name of fighting terrorism.
Q: It is evident that relations between Islam and the West are worsening now after Sept 11. What do you suggest to restore the ties?
A: The relationship between Islam and the West is indeed not good at the moment because both sides do not trust the other much, nor do we have an adequate knowledge of each other. So they see two blocks facing each other. One is hostile to the other. The way to improve (the relationship) is first of all to recognize the differences on both sides but it's not just black and white. The second is not to engage in hostilities, violence and aggression because this can only deepen the distrust. The third element is that both sides have to be self-critical and not just lay the blame on the other side but realize that a terrible thing has happened. Sept. 11 is a fact and not invented by Western media. One thing I would say is that the West has many problems and Islam is not necessarily the most important one. Westerners do not always think about Islam, nor do something against it. They have other concerns. It's completely a wrong perception among many Muslims. What both sides should do is to be more self- critical to identify the problems we are facing. In the case of Indonesia, the task of the government here is to look at all realities in the country, not to blame the West.
Q: Could you identify the roots of the terrorist problem?
A: I think the roots are generally well known, that is to say resentment of the Western or American domination in most parts of the world. If we look at what Osama bin Laden and others have said about their aims that it is about liberating Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Islamic world from foreign domination. But I personally think that the main reasons behind the Sept. 11 event are political in nature. And they have to do with the highly unequal distribution of power and influence on a worldwide scale, in all levels of economy, politics and culture.
Q: Why do you think the U.S. was the target of the terrorist attacks blamed on bin Laden and his al-Qaeda?
A: It is very difficult to know why exactly this person went this path. You know he is not the only terrorist in the world. It's a big question to answer. But it seems that the people who perpetrated the act felt that they had to give a signal, a big catalyst event, which would shake the West and show to the rest that they could do something. It can only have negative effects, not just on Americans but Muslims as well because they (Muslims) are identified with the act no matter if they disapprove of it. Many people in the West believe that in some ways, it (Sept. 11) is linked to Islam. We have to fight this idea, of course. But it is difficult to do so.
At the moment I see only negative effects (from the Sept. 11) because it has deepened the differences between the West and Islam. It has made people more afraid of each other. It has created more hatred. It makes many Western governments turn a blind eye to violations of human rights in their own countries and Muslim countries. It has given better chances for non- democratic rulers to oppress critics and fight opponents by claiming that they are all terrorists. Therefore, in the short term it has strengthened the trend of authoritarian policies and weakened the trend of open societies. And it is difficult to know what the long term effect is. Right now what we see is an increase of repression and aggression. No change of minds in broad scales and therefore no improvement.
Q: Extremism and radicalism have been reemerging in Indonesia since the fall of former dictator Soeharto in 1998. Could it be a threat to the country?
A: I have been in Indonesia for one month. I'm not an expert on Indonesia. But one thing I would say is that, by at large the Indonesian experience in peaceful coexistence and tolerance is still impressive. It could still be the model for quite a few societies in the Middle East and other parts of the world. Now I hear there are radical and militant groups in this country, I cannot evaluate their strength. It is important to recognize that they exist and not to deny it. The current state of world affairs, the possible war against Iraq and the unresolved Middle East conflict will strengthen radical groups everywhere in the Muslim world. Even if they get stronger, it still does not mean they will be a dominant force even in political Islam. It does not mean that others should neglect them or take them lightly. Indonesia could be the model of a democratic Muslim nation if it succeeds in preserving the tradition of tolerance and pluralism and ensuring a good, accountable and clean governance.