MAARIF INSTITUTE TO HOLD PUBLIC DIALOG TO WELCOME OBAMA

Jakarta, March 15 (ANTARA) - The Maarif Institute is planning to hold a public dialog to give a socio-political welcome to US President Barack Oabama who is to visit Indonesia later this month.

The institute's executive director, Fajar Riza Ul Haq, said here on Monday the public dialog was intended to give a fair judgement and positive welcome to Obama's presence in Indonesia.

Fajar said the dialog, to be themed "To Consider the Strategic Role of Indonesia's Muslim Community in the International Arena and in the Perspective of Obama's Foreign Policy", would be conducted at the PP Muhammadiyah Hall here on Thursday, March 18, 2010.

US President Obama's visit to Indonesia has drawn pros and cons in the Indonesian community.

"The groups of people who oppose Obama's visit should understand the position of Obama's policy which has yet to satisfy the world's Muslim community," Fajar said.

He said Obama's progressive view on the solution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, political chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the war against terrorism should be understood by the Muslim community.

"I think it is not easy for an Obama to rid US foreign policy of the neocolonialist paradigm," Fajar said.

Meanwhile, former PP Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif said Muslims in Indonesia should make use of Obama's visit to channel the hopes and the agenda of Muslims' struggle to obtain justice for the Muslim world.

"It is only through a dialog and global political cooperation such as with the United States that the interests of the Muslim world can be served," Buya Syafii said.

He said Obama needed extra support from the international community for his political agenda to correct the policy of the Bush regime.

"I was the one who enthusiastically supported Obama's victory in the US presidental election, but I have warned the Muslim community not to expect too much from Obama's government, because there is a historical and political burden that he has to bear in America," Syafii said.OBAMA TO ARRIVE ON MARCH 23 : MINISTER