The Age [Australia], Sunday 16 February 2003, 22:06PM
War stance splits Indonesia: church
The federal government's pro-war stance on Iraq is increasing tensions between
extremist Muslim groups and Christians in Indonesia, the Uniting Church president
said.
Reverend Professor James Haire, who is also an expert on Indonesian affairs, said the
situation became clear on a recent visit to Indonesia.
"Australia must accept that an attack on Iraq by Western forces will be interpreted by
fundamentalist forces in Indonesia as an attack on Islam," he said in a statement.
"A war on Iraq will add to the instability of our region and Australians will have to
accept that reality."
Prof Haire said if the US, the UK and Australia went ahead with an invasion of Iraq,
they would not have any grounds to entreat Muslims to show them respect.
"Bombing Iraq makes it impossible for moderate Muslim leaders in Indonesia to argue
for mutual respect and reconciliation, even though the majority of Muslims in
Indonesia are moderates and they have no respect for Saddam Hussein," he said.
Prof Haire said the only way forward was to promote peaceful solutions to conflict,
"thus denying fundamental extremists the oxygen they need to pursue their cause".
©2003 AAP
Copyright © 2002 The Age Company Ltd
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