U.S. response may polarise opinion in Muslim nations

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, SEPT. 26. The early warning signs are visible. After the U.S. call for ``war against terrorism'' there are reports that religious extremists in Indonesia have taken to the streets and are even ``searching'' hotels in the city of Surakarta in Central Java for Americans.

The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) yesterday called on Muslims all over the world to wage a ``jehad'' should the United States and its allies ``go ahead with their planned aggression towards Afghanistan''. While condemning the September 11 carnage in New York and Washington, Mr. Din Syamsuddin, Council secretary- general, said aggression directed at Afghanistan could be seen as hostility towards Islam and Muslims and a new form of ``imperialism''. ``Therefore, we call on the U.S. Government to reflect on the injustices it has been responsible for and the double standards it has been responsible for, especially the violations against human rights that have affected the Muslim community,'' Mr. Din said.

The Council, while urging the Indonesian Government not to support any American military action, criticised hardline elements who had taken to the streets to ``search'' for Americans. When asked if the ``jehad'' meant armed conflict against the West, Mr. Din said: ``No, fighting in the name of Allah can mean many things.'' There is little doubt that a moderate country like Indonesia, which is home to the largest number of Muslims in the world, could face the ire of hardline Islamists whose interpretation of key religious tenets are not shared by moderates.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the response and reaction to American action against terrorism could well polarise street and political opinion in countries like Indonesia. If the U.S. only targets persons believed to be responsible for the September 11 attacks instead of taking sweeping actions, governments in South-East Asia will find it easier to deal with the fallout. If, however, America resorts to large-scale bombing then problems will mount for leaders like the Indonesian President, Ms. Megawati Sukarnoputri.

In Jakarta, there was a protest outside the Australian Embassy in response to the torching of a mosque in Brisbane.

The need to keep bigotry and tempers in check clearly is not the job of countries like Indonesia alone. The murders of South Asians in the United States and reports of hate crimes in other parts of the Western world can only go to convince the Islamists that they are right about their perceptions.

So far, the Indonesian Government has taken a strong, principled position against the terrorist attacks and Ms. Megawati's meeting with the U.S. President, Mr. George W Bush, sent out a strong message about where Jakarta stood in the campaign against terrorism.

Even the conservative Indonesian Vice-President, Mr. Hamzah Haz, has taken a categorical position against the terrorist attacks. However, he was less enthusiastic about possible American attacks against sovereign States on the pretext of arresting terrorists. ``If you want to catch mice, just grab them, but there is no need to set the house on fire,'' Mr. Hamzah was quoted as saying in Jakarta today. The Vice-President urged extremist sections not to ``hunt down'' Americans living in the country - an act which would hurt both the Muslim community and the Indonesian nation.

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Section  : International
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