Friday
May092008
Former Indonesian President speaks out against Muslim extremism
Friday, May 9, 2008 at 4:15PM
Today at George Washington University, Former Indonesian President His Excellency Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as “Gus Dur”, addressed an auditorium of Muslim students, onlookers and media members urging young Muslims to “reclaim authentic Islam.” President Wahid served as Indonesia’s “first democratically-elected president from 1999-2001 and remains the leader of the National Awakening Party (PKB), which he established after the fall of Suharto in 1998.”A highly-regarded and much respected Muslim cleric, he has led the Nahdlatul Ulama, the worlds largest Islamic organization with forty million members. He is a strong advocate for religious tolerance and a proponent of many democratic ideals. “When addressing Muslim audiences, Gus Dur invariably reminds his listeners that it is their sacred duty to respect others’ beliefs, and to avoid any form of discrimination or intolerance towards those who worship differently from themselves.” (continued)
C. Holland Taylor and President Wahid co-founded the LibForAll Foundation which is the “world’s foremost supporter of peaceful, moderate, and progressive Muslim’s in their fight against well-financed radical Muslim extremists characterized by an intolerant understanding of Islam.” The event was also co-sponsored by The American Islamic Congress through its Project Nur program, which is based on numerous college campuses and emphasizes the positive relationships between Muslim students and students of other religions.
President Wahid, often called a moderate Muslim, is sometimes seen as controversial due to some of his pro-western ideals. After the President of Iran’s claims about the Holocaust being a myth, President Wahid, although claiming to be a friend of the Iraninan President, said that this stance was wrong citing that history will stand for itself. At a recent one-day conference on the island of Bali, there was a gathering of religious leaders and victims of terrorist attacks. Present was President Wahid, Hindu spiritual head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Buddhist teachers, a Jesuit priest and rabbis. This kind of gathering is unprecedented in today’s world and speaks to the message that President Wahid is trying to push.
C. Holland Taylor and President Wahid co-founded the LibForAll Foundation which is the “world’s foremost supporter of peaceful, moderate, and progressive Muslim’s in their fight against well-financed radical Muslim extremists characterized by an intolerant understanding of Islam.” The event was also co-sponsored by The American Islamic Congress through its Project Nur program, which is based on numerous college campuses and emphasizes the positive relationships between Muslim students and students of other religions.
President Wahid, often called a moderate Muslim, is sometimes seen as controversial due to some of his pro-western ideals. After the President of Iran’s claims about the Holocaust being a myth, President Wahid, although claiming to be a friend of the Iraninan President, said that this stance was wrong citing that history will stand for itself. At a recent one-day conference on the island of Bali, there was a gathering of religious leaders and victims of terrorist attacks. Present was President Wahid, Hindu spiritual head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Buddhist teachers, a Jesuit priest and rabbis. This kind of gathering is unprecedented in today’s world and speaks to the message that President Wahid is trying to push.
Obama's Pacific Trip Aimed At Bolstering Diplomatic, Economic Ties
White house officials voiced the serious nature of President Barack Obama's upcoming diplomatic visit to Indonesia, Guam and Australia during a conference call with reporters Monday and stressed that the focus of the trip is to strengthen both political and economic relationships with the countries.
“This trip to Indonesia and Australia is an important opportunity to advance Americas’ security and economic interests in a very vital part of the world,” said Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes during a conference call with reporters. “The Asia Pacific region is of growing importance.”
Obama will first make a one day visit to Guam, where he will host a public with military personnel posted in area. Obama will then be off to Indonesia, which, according to Rhodes, has been critical to the United States' direction in the war on terror.
The president will be giving a speech directed to the Indonesian people during his stay to relay his personal sentiments with the country stemming from the time he spent in the country as a child.
“This is an opportunity for [Obama] to discuss the comprehensive partnership that we’re developing with Indonesia and the Indonesian people,” said Rhodes.
After the two day stay, Obama will travel to Australia, which has become an increasingly strong ally to the U.S. in recent years.
According to Rhodes, Australia has been pushing with the U.S. to help forward action to decrease environmental factors that damage the planet
“In many ways its a model alliance for the United States. We have very robust cooperation with the Australians on security issues, economic issues and environmental issues,” said Rhodes.
The president was initially supposed to leave Wednesday, but has re-scheduled the trip for Sunday amid Congressional action on health care reform.