CIAO DATE: 10/03

Report on IDSS Panel Dialogue on "The Future of Indonesia's Islam: The Quest for an Equilibrium"

Abstract

In the aftermath of the September 11 terorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, the ever-growing Post Suharto era radical Islamic discourse in Indonesia became more dominant and was in itself shaped by themes evident in the global sphere, where the rhetoric of a clash between Islam and the West became a major theme in international relations.

A number of concepts in radical Islamic discourse became more evident, for example, sharia, jihad and strident anti-Americanism/Westernism moved from the periphery of Islamic discourse in Indonesia to the center stage. In the contest over such religious symbols, radical groups have been able to bolster their identity, legitimacy and purpose.

However, the intrigues of rival Muslim elites should be contrasted by reaction of ordinary Indonesian Muslims after the September attacks on the United States. Many expressed their sincere condolences for the American victims of the violence. When the U.S.-led air campaign against al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan began, hardline groups demanded that the gobernment suspend diplomatic relations with the United States. Islamic militants threated to use their paramiliatires to "sweep" hotels in Surakarta in search of American and Bitish tourists. While this threat was seriousl, no "sweepings" occurred, and the demonstrators outside the U.S. Embassy never exceed more than a few thousand — a negligible number considering that more than 85 percent of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslims. More important, the leaders of the country's two largest Islamic organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Muhammadiyah, which have some 50 million followers, repudiated calls for radical action. Such evidence indicated that the sentiment among mainstream Muslims accorded with the conciliatory and sympathetic remarks made by President Megawati Sukarnoputri during her visit to the U.S. immediately after the September 11 attacks.

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