Indonesia scores points

by Manik Mehta

(GulfNews) Indonesia has been scoring points with the United States by attempting to clear up some of the misunderstandings around Islam.

One example of this was the interfaith dialogue organised by the Indonesians on the 'Role of Religions in Building a Peaceful, Democratic and Prosperous Society'. The event brought representatives of all the major religions together under the roof of its consulate general in New York on May 26.

A lively session ensued in which representatives of Confucianism, Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, among others, presented their religious viewpoints.

While bringing together these religious representatives was, in itself, quite an achievement, Indonesia made sure that the session served to underscore the commonality between the various faiths, rather than harp on the differences between them.

Indeed, there was no trace of hostility or dichotomy between Islam and Judaism or Islam and Christianity as representatives of these faiths addressed the audience and sounded conciliatory, even joking at their own expense. The emphasis was on rejecting terror orchestrated in the name of religion.

While the event was intended to make a contribution to what Indonesia's consul general in New York, Trie Edi Mulyani, described as a "harmonious coexistence of religions", the exercise was also to intended to clear up some of the misunderstandings about Islam, which is viewed with suspicion and distrust by mainstream Americans, who associate it with violence and terrorism. In a prepared text, Imam Shamsi Ali, spiritual leader of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, stressed that Islam is a peaceful religion that does not approve of violence. He also corrected the misconception that Islam and democracy were mutually exclusive and incompatible with each other.

"&some fundamental principles of Islam and democracy are similar," he declared. "Islam teaches the principles of freedom, human dignity, equality and governance by contract, popular sovereignty, and the rule of law that are compatible. The two pieces to the puzzle of forming a functioning democracy are the essential notions of equality and freedom in society, without which a people cannot truly govern."

By holding the interfaith dialogue in the US, Indonesia has clearly touched a chord that appeals to many Americans. In doing so, it also presented itself, the world's most populous Muslim country, as being moderate and tolerant.

Foreign policy experts will recall that newly appointed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first foreign tour took her to Asia and included a visit to Indonesia, whose links with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement underscore its strong credentials to play the role of a mediator between East and West.

In an interview with this writer, Mulyani commented:

"As a model of pluralism - remember, we have large populations of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Jews in Indonesia, besides the Muslim majority - my country can effectively play such a role& we can certainly clear up misunderstandings between our friends in the Muslim world and in the West."

The US administration, foreign policy experts say, is quietly encouraging Indonesia to play such a role.

"We can build bridges between the United States and the Muslim world. This was also implicitly reinforced by Secretary of State Clinton's recent visit to Indonesia, and also by President [Barack] Obama's desire for this," Mulyani claimed.

Obama is known to have a soft spot for Indonesia, where he spent some time in his early life, and the Indonesians are not shy of playing up this fact. It is rumoured that Obama plans to visit the country in November after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Singapore.

If the visit goes ahead, it will represent recognition for Indonesia. Its unique attributes as a moderate Muslim nation that maintains friendly ties with the West makes Indonesia an ideal strategic partner for the US in Southeast Asia.

Manik Mehta is a commentator on Asian affairs.