Tue, Oct 23, 2001 page6

• Bombing during fasting month may incite protest

  HAIR TRIGGER While Muslim nations in Asia have kept the most radical elements of their societies at bay, continuing US strikes during Ramadan could spell disaster

  • REUTERS
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  Muslims around Asia warned yesterday the US could stir Islamic anger and drive moderates into the hardline camp if the strikes on Afghanistan stretched into the Ramadan fasting month.

  Islamic religious and community leaders say attacks during the fasting month of the Islamic calendar, beginning in mid-November, would be unacceptable and would trigger big and potentially violent protests among the world's billion Muslims.

  "Moderate Muslim countries would not stand this," Niti Hasan, secretary-general of the Council of Muslim Organizations of Thailand said.

  "The 15 consecutive days of attacks are more than enough. It would be unbearable if the attacks continued into the holy month of Ramadan."

  On Sunday, 30,000 Thais rallied in the nation's Muslim-dominated south to protest against the US-led strikes on Afghanistan in the hunt for Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks on the US.

  Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation where the government is treading a delicate line between appeasing Muslim groups and backing its key ally, has warned Washington of the dangers of a Ramadan military campaign.

  "Emotionally it would be, I think, explosive if military actions are still being done in Afghanistan," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters in Shanghai after a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.

  Asia is home to the world's largest Muslim populations.

  About 90 percent of Indonesia's 210 million people follow Islam, India and Pakistan have more than 100 million Muslims each, 87 percent of Bangladesh's 130 million people and two-thirds of Malaysia's 23 million people are Muslim and Thailand and the Philippines have sizeable Islamic minorities.

  Although their governments have condemned the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington that killed more than 5,000 people, many regional leaders have also expressed concern about the strikes against Muslim-ruled Afghanistan and the level of civilian casualties.

  In Malaysia, Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), the main opposition party which has spearheaded anti-US protests, vowed more rallies if the attacks continued into Ramadan.

  "Hatred and anger with the Americans will rise if they proceed with their bombings into Ramadan," said PAS' Hatta Mohd Ramli, a doctor who plans to go to Afghanistan next month on a humanitarian mission.

  Similar warnings were voiced in the Catholic-dominated Philippines.

  "It will be an outpouring of sentiment for people," said Nash Pangadapun, secretary-general of the Muslim anti-war group Maradeka, organizing nationwide protests during Ramadan.

  "We will see more protest action and could even see violent attacks throughout the Muslim world ... I hope here in the Philippines it will not lead to that," he said.

  Mainstream groups in relatively moderate Indonesia said they would try to keep their members under control, although radical groups which have brought thousands onto the streets in sometimes violent protests are a concern.

  "Pressure on the US is important, but our reaction must be rational," said Hasyim Muzadi, the head of Indonesia's largest Muslim group, the 45-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama.

  "Do not let helping other nations ruin our own country."

  Despite fears of anti-Western sentiment that has depressed financial markets, a surprisingly tough stand by Indonesian security forces appears to be working and there have been no major incidents of violence.

  Indian analyst Asghar Wajahat, a professor at the Islamic Jamia Milia University, said that many Muslims felt powerless.

  "Muslims are angry but don't want to show that anger. The Indian Muslim is sure that what is happening is wrong, but he is not sure what he can do to stop it," he said.

  Ramadan is a time of self-sacrifice, restraint and religious contemplation for Muslims. They are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke during daylight hours.

  But continued US-led action is likely to inflame radical groups already calling for a jihad, or holy war.

  Defending Islam and fellow Muslims is regarded as a duty and not subject to the normal restraints of Ramadan, although jihad warriors must still fast.

  Islam has a long history of wars during the fasting month.

  "Memories of the prophet's Muslim forces winning battles during the fasting month ... will flare. jihad calls will multiply and religious nuances will become stronger," said Azyumardi Azra, rector of Jakarta's State Institute of Islamic Studies.

  NU scholar and graduate from Cairo's Al-Azhar University Zuhari Misrawi said Jakarta's warnings of the dangers of a Ramadan campaign were likely aimed at a domestic audience.
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