Leaders of Indonesia's biggest Muslim organizations said Friday that moderate Muslims had failed to silence radical groups taking over public spaces in the country.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah leaders said the majority's silence was caused by the pragmatic attitude of moderate Muslims and the government's failure to embrace them in countering radicalism and violence.

NU deputy chairman Masdar F. Mashudi said moderate Muslims must make their voices heard through the media and mosques without neglecting their long-term objectives of educating Muslims with moderate teaching.

"It's true that moderate Muslims are kind of ignorant about doing something to fight radicalism, because most of them think it is not their business," the Islamic law expert said.

He said although the radical groups were small, they were very vocal and capable of attracting media attention and followers.

"What is the meaning of a demonstration of 5,000 FPI followers in Jakarta compared to 12 million city residents? But since they (the FPI) took action, they were heard and people started to think it was the voice of Muslims," Masdar said.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin acknowledged there was a great silence on the part of the majority moderate Muslims in Indonesia.

"We must be active and proactive without having to be vocal in fighting violence and addressing radicalism. We must do it by example without having to be seen as talking only," he said.

Din, however, rejected the idea of demonstrations or mass mobilization to counter radical groups, vowing to stay on educating and empowering people in economic and social life.

Masdar and Din criticized President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla for ignoring the role of moderate Muslim groups in helping them fight radicalism, urging the government to work with moderate Muslims organizations, like NU and Muhammadiyah, to eradicate radicalism.

Moderate Muslim organizations have come under fire for failing to demonstrate their religious tolerance following a government decree against an Islamic minority sect.

Muslim scholars and political observers said that as major moderate groups, the NU and Muhammadiyah should have prevented the recent attacks by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) against a pro-pluralism rally, and the subsequent issuance of a joint ministerial decree against Jamaah Ahmadiyah.

The anti-Ahmadiyah decree was issued by the government earlier this month amid intense pressure from many extremist groups, including the FPI and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia.

Of the decree, Masdar said there was no basis in Islam to give a group's right to brand others heretical as no Islamic groups or individual could declare themselves the only truthful people.

"The fact that we must pray 17 times a day so that God can show us the right way tells us that no Muslims can claim they are already in the right," he said.

He called on the government to set a forum for all parties to meet and discuss an end to the problems.

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