Slamet Susanto and M. Taufiqurrahman, Yogyakarta/Jakarta – Angered by Jakarta's backing of a recent UN resolution sanctioning Iran over its nuclear program, a major Muslim organization has demanded the government do more to support the causes of fellow Islamic countries.
In a 13-point recommendation issued late Saturday at the conclusion of its four-day national meeting in Yogyakarta, Muhammadiyah called on the government to actively defend the interests of the Islamic world.
"We call on the government to be proactive in taking strategic initiatives to defend Muslims in the Islamic world," said a member of the group's executive board, Haedar Nashir.
Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Islamic group, also called on the government to return to a free and active foreign policy, as it says was practiced for decades following independence.
Many Muslims in the country were angered by the government's decision to support a UN resolution imposing additional sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, a decision some critics said would result in Indonesia losing credibility in the Muslim world.
Muslim groups have accused the government of bowing to pressure from Western governments that hope to isolate Iran internationally.
Hundreds of Muhammadiyah leaders from around the country gathered in Yogyakarta for the national meeting, during which they discussed current issues, both local and global. The four-day meeting wrapped up late Saturday, with a closing speech by Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin.
In a speech to open the meeting, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono criticized the group for not doing enough to help revive the country's economy. He said Muhammadiyah had become overly occupied with social work in education and healthcare.
In response to the criticism, Muhammadiyah said in its 13-point recommendation that it would begin to do more to empower the poor. "Muhammadiyah has to revive the role of its members as an engine of the economy," the first point of the recommendation says.
The group says one of its first moves will be to strike a deal with retail giant Alfamart as a foray into the retail industry. The leadership of Muhammadiyah also agreed to guard against any efforts to pull the organization into politics.
"Muhammadiyah will shy away from politics by developing programs that will make it immune from the influence of political parties," the recommendation said.
Although the group has never formally set up a political party, it has been associated with a number of parties, most notably the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Executive board member Haedar warned Muhammadiyah leaders, from the national level down to the villages, to stay out of politics. "In some places, we have handed down punishments to members who attempted to bring Muhammadiyah closer to certain political parties," Haedar said.