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Megawati urges 'moderate' Muslims to join war on 'terrorism'
Jakarta Post Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri finally reached out to the country's Islamic mainstream on Monday, urging them to participate in the war against terrorism. She also assured the country's Muslim community that the on-going antiterrorism drive was not directed against Islam. "The President is calling on moderate Muslim groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah to promote Islam as a peace-loving and cooperative religion, especially in the current war against terrorism," chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association (PMII) Nusron Wahid said after a meeting with Megawati Monday. The PMII is one of the youth-wing organizations of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Muslim-based organization in the country. "The President also underlines that the Muslim community should not be afraid of the current probe as long as they are not involved in terrorist activities," Nusron said. Those that are involved in terrorist activities don't have much to worry about, either, with Hamzah Haz as veep... Megawati's invitation for moderate Muslim groups was the first attempt to engage the public in fighting against the terrorism that has created havoc for the country's economy with the deadly attacks in the prime tourist destination of Bali on Oct. 12. If we're really stoopid as a society — and we probably are — Australia and/or the U.S. will be preparing an aid package right about now to make the economic hit less of a burden... It also came amid anxiety among Muslims here following police searches in a number of Muslim "You gotta use kid gloves with those people! They're really very sensitive. That making faces stuff, and jumping up and down and hollering, that's just a front..." Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-11-19 |
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