Ahmad Syafii Maarif

Some anti-terror police complained to me that the support they expect from the government is not adequate. Nevertheless, what they have done so far to eliminate terrorist territory has been successful. International observers have acknowledged the great achievement of Indonesian police in coping with these dangerous and uncivilized actions.

In the meantime, one cannot ignore the fact that widespread corruption and other social ills undermining the basic pillars of Indonesian contemporary culture contribute to the terror activities among the poor and less-educated Muslims who are the real victims of a corrupt political system.

Of course, external factors, such as the plight and suffering of Palestinians, Afghans and Iraqis, are also responsible for triggering terror activities in Indonesia to show solidarity in wrong ways. But in my observation, domestic factors are more dominant. My non-Muslim colleagues and friends always regard Muhammadiyah and NU as their protectors from any religious extremism, although many of the Muslims themselves have become the victims of terrorism.

The Indonesian interfaith leaders are not only busy in religio-moral intellectual dialogues, but working to help enlighten people at the grass-roots level. When Aceh province was destroyed by the terrible and dreadful tsunami in Dec. 2004, top interfaith leaders led by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, S.J., soon made a visit to the area.

The group provided financial aid to families affected by the tragedy, including a traditional Muslim boarding school (pesantren) that had been wiped out by the tsunami. You can imagine how happy a small and poor pesantren must have felt when they were visited by a cardinal accompanied by other interfaith leaders to console the santris (pesantren pupils) and their kiyais (teachers) who survived the calamity.

The visit to this predominantly Muslim province indeed symbolized the interfaith leader's real cooperation and commitment to show deep sympathy and empathy to those who were extremely suffering from a serious natural disaster.

Another grass-roots effort that has been going on for the past three years, organized by the MAARIF Institute for Culture and Humanity and funded by Ford Foundation, is the Good Governance Project. This was launched in three local districts in three provinces: Lampung, Yogyakarta and Central Java.

The interfaith leaders also acted as observers to monitor the progress and development of the project. The purpose of this project was to uncover hard facts as to how local governments did their jobs efficiently and effectively in serving people in their own territories.

In developing good governance, there were three categories used by the project to measure and evaluate local governments' success or failure in executing their function as public servants: Transparency, accountability and efficiency. Last month the project came to an end and it was a big success, which cannot be separated from the significant and crucial role played by the interfaith leaders in the monitoring phase of the project.

There are still various dynamic activities in many Indonesian provinces organized by local interfaith leaders to serve and help the needy, regardless of their socio-religious background. If this positive and constructive trend continues in the future, who knows -- Indonesia might become a mirror and a good example for other nations to follow. The true function of faith is to bind, not to divide people due to their different religious backgrounds.

Once this function runs smoothly in many parts of the world, peace will no doubt be part of our future. When philosophy fails to offer the answer to the true meaning of human life, religion can come to the fore to supply us with a final say. To understand spiritually the meaning of life and death is not solely the business of philosophy. The more meaningful and true essence of life and death is enshrined in the realm and province of religions.

Due to acute poverty, some unenlightened citizens have fallen into the terrorists' traps, and feel they are truly dedicated people and good Muslims. In my limited capacity, aided sincerely by the interfaith leaders, what I have done and contributed so far to enlighten the minds and the hearts of the people, intellectual and common, is insignificant.

But the award I have received from the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation has once again confirmed the right choices I have made in my life.

The writer, former Chairman of Central Board of Muhammadiyah and Founder of MAARIF Institute, can be reached at syafiimaarif@maarifinstitute.org or maarif1935@yahoo.co.id

This is an excerpt of a speech he delivered during the Magsaysay Award 2008 in Manila recently.

— JP