Many Indonesians, both in the Christian minority and the Moslem majority, are uncomfortable with the sudden prominence of Islam in politics. Sander Thoenes reports on disquiet over exploitation of religion in the election campaign

A sea of green flags, decorated with yellow crescent moons, stars and images of the Kaaba, the religious heart of Mecca, could trick a newcomer into thinking that an Islamic revolution is at hand in Indonesia. The reality is far more banal: Islam is becoming a marketing gimmick.

After 32 years of authoritarian rule which banned communism and frowned on anything but its own amorphous ideology, at least a third of Indonesia's new political parties can think of little else but Islam to appeal to an electorate of 128m that is more than 80 per cent Moslem.

"There are no substantial differences," says Ahmad Syafi'i Ma'arif, acting chairman of Muhammadiyah, one of the two largest Moslem organisations. "They all want to be leaders. They did not look at the Islamic doctrine before they entered politics. Political calculations are more important to them."

Instead of a sudden swing to fundamentalism, the high number of Moslem parties cropping up in Indonesia also reflects the diversity of religious practice in the largest Moslem nation in the world.

Some cater to traditional Moslems, others to nominal Moslems in Java who mix their Islamic beliefs with Hindu and animist notions, and yet others appeal to the more educated, modernist Moslems in cities and universities.

"We all have our niche markets," said Nur Mahmudi Ismail, president of the Justice party, considered a dark horse in the general election on June 7.

Its niche market is earnest young students in search of a guiding principle, and those in the middle class who feel alienated by the years of secular rule by former President Suharto, which is now often associated with corruption and lawlessness.

"We introduce ethics and morality into politics," says Mr Ismail. "We want to teach citizens to understand their role in building this society, to become honest, to become disciplined."

One symbol of this effort is the soft-drink cooler in the party headquarters in Jakarta. It is unlocked, relying instead on a Koranic verse to admonish members to pay for each bottle they take out. "If you pay the exact amount you already did justice," a sign reads. "Do justice, since justice is closer to piety."

The Justice party calls for a role in government for the ulemas, the lslamic scholars, removal of western-style laws that conflict with Indonesian culture and for censorship of western arts entering the country.

Mr Ismail believes gay activists should be jailed and defends laws that allow parents to block a daughter's wedding but not a son's. The party office has separate waiting areas for female and male visitors.

"Whoever accepts a woman as leader will not be successful," reads a diary distributed as campaign gifts by the Justice party, and: "If the Moslems are united we can face the others together."

Many Indonesians, both in the Christian minority and the Moslem majority, are uncomfortable with the sudden prominence of Islam in politics.

Some fear it will only divide the nation at a time when economic and political chaos has sparked religious and ethnic riots, and the country's two most prominent Moslem leaders both opted for founding secular parties.

"Religiously this country is very tolerant," says Mr Ma'arif. "But once politics enters religion it is very dangerous. They should be very careful when quoting the Koranic verses – it can divide the Moslem community."

But the drinks on sale in the Justice party cooler are American cola and root beer. Its founding members teamed up through the internet while studying in the US and Australia. Women make up more than half of the rapidly growing party rank and file. Like most Moslem parties in Indonesia, the Justice party goes out of its way to prove it is moderate, tolerant and open-minded.

"No Moslem can suffice with relying on lessons from Islam and ignoring other lessons," its leaflet reads. "Justice should be done towards anyone regardless of race, skin colour or religion."

While some blame the recent wave of clashes between Christians and Moslems on the revival of religious politics, Mr lsmail insists it is the moral vacuum that is to blame. "The main reason is a lack of understanding of religion," he says. "Islam does not teach that everything of others is bad."

None of the parties advocates replacing secular law with the Sharia, or Islamic law, although Mr Ismail and others concede they would prefer to introduce at least some of it to the Indonesian legal system, which was drafted largely by the Dutch colonial government that ruled Indonesia until 1949.

"We must transfer the values of the Koran into the law," said Anwar Haryono, founder of the Crescent Moon and Star party, shortly before his death late last year. "But those values can be acceptable to everybody. Not like in Saudi Arabia but more like Malaysia."