LAKSAMANA.Net, October 20, 2003 11:20 PM
Islamic Authority Says Bush Meeting Useless
Laksamana.Net - The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the nation’s top Islamic
authority, says an upcoming Bali meeting between moderate Muslim leaders and US
President George W. Bush would be a waste of time.
MUI and the Ukhuwah Islamiyah (Islamic Brotherhood) Forum on Monday (20/10/03)
urged the Muslim leaders to boycott the meeting planned for Wednesday during
Bush’s four-hour stopover in Bali.
"President George W. Bush is an agent of state terrorism...and a criminal against
humanity because he has destroyed other peoples and nations," MUI secretary
general Din Syamsuddin was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.
Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting in Jakarta of 32 Islamic organizations,
he said the planned meeting would be useless and not profitable to the Indonesian
public.
He said Bush was "part of the problem" in today’s world. He also accused the US
president of arrogantly "acting like a teacher" to Indonesia and trying to divide
Indonesian Muslims.
Syamsuddin said that if the Muslim leaders go ahead with the meeting, they should
tell Bush "to fully comprehend the aspirations of the Islamic community".
He also urged the US to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, and said Bush must
listen to the demands of Indonesian Muslims who feel his war on terrorism is a pretext
to destroy Islam.
Four Muslim figures – Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammadiyah
chairman Syafii Maarif, popular television preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar, and State
Islamic University rector Azyumardi Azra – have been invited to meet with Bush for 30
minutes in Bali.
Gymnastiar has opted not to attend the meeting. He said his decision was not based
on hatred but to protest America’s "unfair treatment of other nations in the world".
Respected Islamic scholar Nurcholish ‘Cak Nur’ Madjid on Monday said the
planned meeting would be insignificant.
"It will be a mere diplomatic gesture without any special significance," he said.
Opportunity
Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda on Monday said the meeting would give the
Muslim leaders a chance to speak their minds.
"It is an opportunity for Indonesian Muslim leaders to convey their ideas," he was
quoted as saying by state news agency Antara. He was speaking in Bangkok on the
sidelines of the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The minister said the Muslim leaders could voice their opinions on terrorism, as well
as the fate of the people of Palestine and Iraq.
In response to criticism of the planned meeting, Wirayuda pointed out that Islam
encourages talks between those who may not necessarily see eye to eye. "The
Prophet Muhammad set a good example when he held talks with his enemies, while
we do not consider Bush a foe," he said.
He said the government selected the four Muslim leaders to participate in the meeting
because they represent the majority of the nation’s Muslims.
Security
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
said Monday that security has been optimized to ensure Bush’s visit proceeds
smoothly.
"Nothing is more important in welcoming President Bush than to optimize the security
and operation at Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport," he was quoted as
saying by Antara.
Bush's visit is part of an October 17-23 tour of five Asian nations and Australia. In
addition to the Muslim leaders, he will also meet with President Megawati
Sukarnoputri in Bali.
Yudhoyono said the meetings would not be held at the Ngurah Rai VIP Room, but at
a hotel nearby the airport.
He said the Indonesian Defense Forces will provide four F-16 fighter jets and a
helicopter to secure Bali’s air space, while four warships had been deployed in
waters south of the resort island.
It's not yet clear whether Indonesia will follow Thailand's example of having Bush's
food taste-tested by mice.
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