SBY Fights Terrorism: Indonesia

According to SBY, Muslims should help solve global problems including terrorism and reach out to the rest of the globe if they want to be understood.

At a conference gathering Muslim scholars from around the globe Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono invoked the glory days of Islam in the first millennium when Muslims were at the forefront of scientific and cultural advancement and told participants to put forward moderate views. Once seen as weak in combating terror Indonesia has prosecuted hundreds of militants linked to terrorism including cleric Abu Bakar Bashir whose release last week sparked protests from Australia and the United States.

During a conference speech SBY said "Our love for Islam should be coupled with a love for learning and knowledge. Muslims can achieve social and economic progress if they embrace science, technology and modernity if they liberate themselves from isolationism"

The U.S. trained former general also said Muslims have been facing insults and ignorant behaviour from other groups but the response should be the will to understand each other.

More than 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million population are Muslims and most are generally moderate in their views. However' the country has a radical fringe that is loud and growing in visibility attracting ample coverage from the media.

Aside from the Bali bombings, Indonesia, the world’'s fourth most populous country, has in recent years seen several other high-profile attacks including on a luxury Western hotel and the Australian embassy in Jakarta.