Jakarta – The origins of religious extremism in Indonesia are rooted in domestic issues, such as low education levels and poverty, and not international factors, a prominent Indonesian Muslim figure told US government officials on a recent trip to America.

Mr Syafiie Ma'arif, chairman of Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organisation, Muhammadiyah, urged the US government to abandon its military approach in its fight against radical Muslim movements in Indonesia, and instead focus attention on helping to raise education standards and alleviate poverty.

The US government needed to identify the sources of radicalism and employ the right strategy to deal with the problem. Financial and technical aid, for example, could be delivered to help the country solve sectarian crises in several regions, particularly Poso in Central Sulawesi and Maluku.

A long-term investment in education would also help create an educated and moderate populace, said Mr Syafiie.