ID :
105654
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 22:38
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https://oananews.org//node/105654
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News Focus: RI MUSLIMS WELCOME OBAMA'S PLANNED VISIT
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta, Feb 9 (ANTARA) - With Indonesia's predominantly Muslim public now positively informed that US President Barack Obaman is coming to Jakarta in March, Muslim leaders have called on the people to use the momentum to show to the world that Islam is a peace loving religion which highly upholds tolerance.
Obama's plan to revisit the Indonesian capital where he spent four years of his childhood and received part of his early school education seems to have brought about a radical change in the general sentiment of the country's Islamic community, especially among its vocal elements. When previously the sentiment was often plain scorn or hatred, now it is hopeful anticipation.
Compared to 2006 when thousands of people took to the streets to protest George W. Bush's half-day visit to Bogor, now Indonesian Muslims' response to Obama's planned visit is quite different, said Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
Even the notoriously anti-Western Islam Defenders Front (FPI) appears to be caught up in 'Obamania,' with one senior member saying that they welcome any visitor as long as they are not here on a "neo-liberal mission."
Senior Muslim leaders said that Obama's visit would help improve relations between the US and the Islamic world.
"Obama's visit is good for Indonesia because Obama is offering to heal relations between the US and the Muslim world after the tensions experienced during the George Bush era," Hasyim Muzadi said.
Hasyim who is also president of the World Conference on Religions for Peace said Indonesia as the world's biggest Moslem country serves as an international "Islam shop window."
"So, Obama's arrival here will be good although what Obama will do cannot be viewed optimally because although as US president he has great powers, he still has to take account of a legislative body that can limit the president's actions.
But Hasyim also said Obama's policy was encouraging as he had helped reduce the tension that had happened between the Western and Islamic worlds.
"Whether Obama will be able to control Israel, we will see," he said.
"As president of the US, a democratic country, Obama plays a major but not encompassing role, as there is a legislative body limiting his steps," he said.
In the meantime, Din Syamsuddin in his capacity as chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, said that Indonesians would warmly welcome Obama, who had shown his good will to develop ties with the Islamic world.
"We don't have to reject Obama's visit. We can use the momentum to express the aspirations of Indonesian Muslims as the eyes of the world will be on us when he is here," Syamsuddin said on Sunday.
Embong Mustafa, a senior FPI member, said his organization also welcomed Obama's visit and he would even be willing to meet the US president if invited.
"We have no problem with Barack Obama's visit. We've never rejected anybody planning to come here except those on a neoliberal mission," Embong said.
Commenting on Obama's visit to Indonesia, Dr Sofyan Siregar, a roving lecturer of the Islamic Universtity of North Sumatra said the visit was an indication of the political goodwill of the United States under the leadership of President Obama.
However, he also called on many Muslims in the country to show respect to the US president who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia.
Sofyan admitted that the world feared Islam or was gripped by Islamophobia because it had misunderstood Islam.
"Many people think that Islam is not preaching justice and harmony," he said adding that therefore, Muslims in the country should deal with Islamophobia in a rational way by building good understanding, dialog and cooperation.
"Face what is unpleasant in a broad-minded way and try to show that Islam is a religion of peace which teaches love and harmony to its followers," Sofyan said.
According to Sofyan, Indonesian Muslims had to show to Obama that Indonesia is not a country where terrorists find shelter or are protected as many members of the international community may have been made to believe.
However, he said it would be a challenge for Obama to reverse the negative views about the United States that stem from events during the Bush administration -- such as the US-led invasion of Iraq, the virtual collapse of the Middle East peace process, and reports of torture at US military detention centers where suspected Islamic militants are held.
Through a good approach with the United States, influential politicians in that country could eventually have a change of heart and see Muslims in a positive perspective, he said, adding that love is capable of changing negative into positive perspectives.
Earlier, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a gathering to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad`s birthday at the Kanzus Shalawat Mosque in Pekalongan, Central Java, asked Muslim clerics to do their share in guiding Muslims towards living in harmony with other religious communities.
"There should be real concord between the people and clerics to create a better life in the future," the president said.
Obama and his family will visit Jakarta in March to launch a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia, and make a "sentimental" return to his childhood home, Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.
Obama spent four years in Jakarta as a child after his mother, Ann Dunham, married Indonesian student Lolo Soetoro, whom she had met in Hawaii.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the visit reflected current expectations in relations with Washington. "This is about developing a comprehensive partnership between the US and Indonesia in all areas. The comprehensive partnership will cover a range of areas, including education, science and technology, trade and investment."
Jakarta, Feb 9 (ANTARA) - With Indonesia's predominantly Muslim public now positively informed that US President Barack Obaman is coming to Jakarta in March, Muslim leaders have called on the people to use the momentum to show to the world that Islam is a peace loving religion which highly upholds tolerance.
Obama's plan to revisit the Indonesian capital where he spent four years of his childhood and received part of his early school education seems to have brought about a radical change in the general sentiment of the country's Islamic community, especially among its vocal elements. When previously the sentiment was often plain scorn or hatred, now it is hopeful anticipation.
Compared to 2006 when thousands of people took to the streets to protest George W. Bush's half-day visit to Bogor, now Indonesian Muslims' response to Obama's planned visit is quite different, said Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
Even the notoriously anti-Western Islam Defenders Front (FPI) appears to be caught up in 'Obamania,' with one senior member saying that they welcome any visitor as long as they are not here on a "neo-liberal mission."
Senior Muslim leaders said that Obama's visit would help improve relations between the US and the Islamic world.
"Obama's visit is good for Indonesia because Obama is offering to heal relations between the US and the Muslim world after the tensions experienced during the George Bush era," Hasyim Muzadi said.
Hasyim who is also president of the World Conference on Religions for Peace said Indonesia as the world's biggest Moslem country serves as an international "Islam shop window."
"So, Obama's arrival here will be good although what Obama will do cannot be viewed optimally because although as US president he has great powers, he still has to take account of a legislative body that can limit the president's actions.
But Hasyim also said Obama's policy was encouraging as he had helped reduce the tension that had happened between the Western and Islamic worlds.
"Whether Obama will be able to control Israel, we will see," he said.
"As president of the US, a democratic country, Obama plays a major but not encompassing role, as there is a legislative body limiting his steps," he said.
In the meantime, Din Syamsuddin in his capacity as chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, said that Indonesians would warmly welcome Obama, who had shown his good will to develop ties with the Islamic world.
"We don't have to reject Obama's visit. We can use the momentum to express the aspirations of Indonesian Muslims as the eyes of the world will be on us when he is here," Syamsuddin said on Sunday.
Embong Mustafa, a senior FPI member, said his organization also welcomed Obama's visit and he would even be willing to meet the US president if invited.
"We have no problem with Barack Obama's visit. We've never rejected anybody planning to come here except those on a neoliberal mission," Embong said.
Commenting on Obama's visit to Indonesia, Dr Sofyan Siregar, a roving lecturer of the Islamic Universtity of North Sumatra said the visit was an indication of the political goodwill of the United States under the leadership of President Obama.
However, he also called on many Muslims in the country to show respect to the US president who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia.
Sofyan admitted that the world feared Islam or was gripped by Islamophobia because it had misunderstood Islam.
"Many people think that Islam is not preaching justice and harmony," he said adding that therefore, Muslims in the country should deal with Islamophobia in a rational way by building good understanding, dialog and cooperation.
"Face what is unpleasant in a broad-minded way and try to show that Islam is a religion of peace which teaches love and harmony to its followers," Sofyan said.
According to Sofyan, Indonesian Muslims had to show to Obama that Indonesia is not a country where terrorists find shelter or are protected as many members of the international community may have been made to believe.
However, he said it would be a challenge for Obama to reverse the negative views about the United States that stem from events during the Bush administration -- such as the US-led invasion of Iraq, the virtual collapse of the Middle East peace process, and reports of torture at US military detention centers where suspected Islamic militants are held.
Through a good approach with the United States, influential politicians in that country could eventually have a change of heart and see Muslims in a positive perspective, he said, adding that love is capable of changing negative into positive perspectives.
Earlier, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a gathering to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad`s birthday at the Kanzus Shalawat Mosque in Pekalongan, Central Java, asked Muslim clerics to do their share in guiding Muslims towards living in harmony with other religious communities.
"There should be real concord between the people and clerics to create a better life in the future," the president said.
Obama and his family will visit Jakarta in March to launch a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia, and make a "sentimental" return to his childhood home, Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.
Obama spent four years in Jakarta as a child after his mother, Ann Dunham, married Indonesian student Lolo Soetoro, whom she had met in Hawaii.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the visit reflected current expectations in relations with Washington. "This is about developing a comprehensive partnership between the US and Indonesia in all areas. The comprehensive partnership will cover a range of areas, including education, science and technology, trade and investment."
