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Indonesia Must Be Resolute in Facing Allied Aggression Against Libya

April 13, 2011

Published in Suara Karya
(Indonesia) on 4 April 2011
by Joko S. (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Nadia Bulkin. Edited by Michelle Harris.

The Secretary General of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS), KH Hasyim Muzadi, stated that Indonesia must act more assertively in relation to the aggression of the [U.S.] allies toward Libya because their actions are actually not purely for the creation of peace.

“Indonesia must be assertive in opposing foreign aggression that gets involved in every conflict. Even more so if that conflict was designed by foreigners,” said Hasyim in Jakarta, on Sunday [April 3].

According to Hasyim, Indonesia needs to pay more attention to Libya because foreign parties can do the same to Indonesia. “They can trigger a conflict and then stage an intervention or invasion based on ‘humanitarianism,’” said the former Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU).

Nevertheless, he said, Indonesia should also continue to push Middle Eastern countries to establish economic and political democracy so there is no lifelong authority [for one person].

Regarding the involvement of various Arab nations that are helping the allies’ attack on Libya, according to Hasyim, this matter is not free from the issue of oil. He stated that oil-producing Arab countries are very fortunate that there is a crisis in Libya because the price of oil rose from $80 to $110 per barrel.

“Just calculate it. If Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, produces 9 million barrels a day, that means it can earn $270 million a day. What if you calculate it for one month?”

Oil Grab

Likewise, Qatar can produce 2 million barrels of oil a day; Bahrain and Kuwait can each produce 2 to 3 million barrels a day.

“Obviously they received a sudden fortune that is extraordinary,” said the caregiver for the Al Hikam Islamic boarding schools at Malang and Depok. On the other hand, Hasyim continued, countries that import oil, such as Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan, are thus knocked down.

Regarding the behavior of the United States, who pulled its military armada from Libya’s no-fly zone, Hasyim stated that it offered more proof that the allies’ attack was more motivated by oil.

The U.S., said Hasyim, appears not to have any oil companies in Libya. The parties that have oil companies in Libya are the European countries like Britain, France and Spain.

“So America cannot continuously operate in Libya except to show ‘Western solidarity.’ Also Obama, who always drums up a soft policy toward the world of Islam, could suffer from this politically, including his name as a winner of the Nobel prize,” he said.

Sekretaris Jenderal International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) KH Hasyim Muzadi mengatakan, Indonesia harus bersikap lebih tegas terkait agresi sekutu ke Libia karena tindakan mereka sebenarnya tidak murni untuk menciptakan perdamaian.

"Indonesia harus tegas menentang agresi asing yang numpang di setiap pemberontakan. Apalagi kalau pemberontakan tersebut didesain oleh asing," kata Hasyim di Jakarta, Minggu (3/4).

Menurut Hasyim, Indonesia perlu memberi perhatian lebih kepada Libya karena Indonesia pun bisa diperlakukan sama oleh pihak asing. "Mereka bisa menyulut pemberontakan kemudian melakukan intervensi atau invasi berdasarkan `kemanusiaan`," kata mantan Ketua Umum Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) itu.

Namun, tutur dia, di sisi lain Indonesia juga harus terus mendorong negara-negara Timur Tengah agar melakukan demokrasi ekonomi dan politik agar tidak ada kekuasaan seumur hidup.

Terkait keterlibatan sejumlah negara Arab membantu serangan sekutu ke Libia, menurut Hasyim hal itu tidak terlepas dari urusan minyak.

Dia mengatakan, negara-negara Arab penghasil minyak sangat diuntungkan dengan adanya krisis Libya karena harga minyak naik dari 80 dolar AS menjadi 110 dolar AS per barel.

"Hitung saja, kalau Arab Saudi, penghasil minyak terbesar di dunia, mencapai sembilan juta barel sehari berarti bisa mendapat 270 juta dolar per hari. Bagaimana kalau dihitung selama satu bulan?" katanya.

Rebut Minyak

Demikian pula Qatar yang bisa menghasilkan minyak dua juta barel sehari, serta Bahrain dan Kuwait yang bisa mencapai dua sampai tiga juta barel sehari.

"Tentu mereka dapat rejeki dadakan yang luar biasa," kata pengasuh Pondok Pesantren Al Hikam Malang dan Depok itu. Sebaliknya, lanjut Hasyim, negara-negara pengimpor minyak seperti Indonesia, Banglades, dan Pakistan justru terkapar.

Terkait sikap Amerika Serikat yang menarik armada militernya dari zona larangan terbang Libia, menurut Hasyim, semakin membuktikan jika serangan sekutu lebih bermotif minyak.

AS, kata Hasyim, tampaknya tidak punya perusahaan minyak di Libya. Pihak yang punya perusahaan minyak di Libya adalah negara-negara Eropa seperti Inggris, Perancis, dan Spanyol.

"Jadi Amerika tidak bisa terus menerus operasi di Libya kecuali sebatas `solidaritas Barat` serta Obama yang selalu mengobarkan soft policy terhadap dunia Islam bisa merugi secara politis, termasuk namanya sebagai pemenang piala Nobel," katanya.

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