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ec. 30, online

In the wake of the brutal arson attack against a Shiite Islamic boarding school in Sampang, Madura, East Java, an activist has called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to learn from his predecessor, the late Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, in handling rampant religious conflict in the country.

“After the fatal attack against Ahmadiyah followers in Cikeusik, Banten, in February, such religious conflicts continue. This is a result of the poor and weak leadership of President Yudhoyono, particularly when it comes to maintaining tolerance in this plural nation,” International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) advocate Usman Hamid said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

“The President should look at Gus Dur, whose demise will be commemorated on Dec. 31. Gus Dur was always at the forefront of defending minorities,” he added.

A compound belonging to the Shiite community in Sampang was allegedly burned down on Thursday by Sunni Muslims, who make up the majority of the Islamic population in Indonesia.  

Your comments:

Have you noticed that whenever SBY appears he is backed up by high-ranking Indonesian Military (TNI) officers? Seems like Indonesia is actually governed by the TNI and SBY is just a puppet; so he has no real power to do anything except talk.
Sheldon

Gus Dur was a political leader and he was also a humanist. SBY is just a TNI general.
Filippo Giancarlo

Precisely the result of the poor and weak leadership of the President. Hopeless.
Edi Rey

SBY or his team read the news so they are oblivious to any issues or complaints like this article. It’s sad the President is so passive and has no spine to deal with the big issues.
Keith Simms

Sadly, Indonesia is going down the Islamist drain.
John Sharp

I just feel sorry for SBY. The job is too big for his lack of leadership capabilities.
Widya Utama

I voted for him during his second run for presidency. But SBY is just too tied to his personal gains, gains for his party and for his allies, which makes him too slow to decide.

I have become much more aware lately of why students equated him with certain four-legged creatures in recent demonstrations.

And now, so many acts of violence by radicals taking place, including the one mentioned in this article.

Does the President only take a firm stance against violence if it costs lives? Sad, but that is our President. As long as it doesn’t shake his chair, he won’t do anything significant.
Harson S.

Unfortunately, the President won’t learn anything from Gus Dur. He is too weak and unsure of himself and carries too much baggage from his New Order career.

Meanwhile, ordinary Indonesians, whom he should be supporting in their struggle for religious and economic freedom, continue to struggle.
Wjgomm

Actually, Mr. Yudhoyono is not the only one to blame. There is the Religious Affairs Ministry. I think this ministry has to make a move and help Mr. Yudhoyono to solve the problem.
Yuko

Perhaps SBY will eventually learn ... in his next reincarnation.
Tami Koestomo

The President may imitate anyone provided the imitated offers good things to emulate. If only Yudhoyono would emulate goodness, then SBY would be a wise leader, not cocky and arrogant.
Muksalmina Mta

This is the best time to give an opportunity to a non-Javanese to become president.
Loli

I support Gus Dur. I heard some people can still “talk” to him.
James

Get religion out of politics. Politics has polluted it. Organized religion has now descended to the dark depths of being primarily a means to control people instead of enlightening them.

It’s not an exclusively Indonesian, or an Islamic, issue. It’s a problem of using religion as a tool to satisfy the human thirst for power and control. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Religion belongs in our homes, in our places of worship and privately, in our hearts. Not in our government, not in our schools.
Deedee S.