CNSNews, November 16, 2001
Ramadan Begins In Asia
By Patrick Goodenough, CNSNews.com Pacific Rim Bureau Chief
Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - Millions of Muslims in Asia have begun
Ramadan, a month of fasting and other observances that has gained wider attention
than usual this year because of the war in Afghanistan.
There traditionally are discrepancies about when Ramadan begins, because the start
is linked to the sighting of the new moon and varies across the Muslim world. Where
the moon was spotted Thursday, the fast begins Friday. Where the moon wasn't seen
Thursday, it is to start one day later.
In the southern Philippines, therefore, Muslims began to fast Friday, while Malaysia
will begin Saturday. In Indonesia, the country's second-largest Muslim organization
decreed Ramadan observance should begin Friday, but the government, backed by
the largest religious grouping, announced it should start Saturday.
Such differences are common. Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and most Gulf states -
including Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam - will begin the fast on Friday, although
Oman is set to begin a day later.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, marks the month during
which Muslims believe Allah revealed the Koran to the prophet Mohammed in the 7th
century. During the month, Muslims do not eat, drink, smoke or have sex during
daylight hours, while evenings are marked by prayers, eating and recitation of
scriptures.
Westerners are more aware of Ramadan this year, because of widespread calls in the
Muslim world for the U.S. to suspend its military campaign in Afghanistan during the
month.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has ruled out a suspension, pointing out that
Muslims historically have not stopped hostilities that have been underway when
Ramadan began. There have also been concerns that a month-long let-up would allow
the Taliban and al-Qaida to regroup, setting back the war effort.
Indonesia and Malaysia have led the appeals, warning that bombing an Islamic
country during Ramadan would anger many Muslims and increase support for the
targets of the campaign - the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist
network.
Indonesian officials expressed concern that some Muslims in Indonesia would react
strongly should the bombing continue. Militant groups in the country earlier threatened
to attack U.S. facilities and expel Americans because of the Afghanistan situation, a
situation that prompted the State Department to advise citizens to defer travel to
Indonesia if possible.
Although the threats failed to materialize and public protests have become less
frequent, the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Ralph Leo Boyce, said in Jakarta
Thursday the U.S. Embassy would reassess the security situation in the first few
days of Ramadan.
Representatives of 19 Muslim groups met with Boyce this week, reiterating calls for a
bombing halt - not only during the fast month but afterwards as well. Boyce undertook
to pass on their views to Washington.
According to local reports, the groups whose officials Boyce met included Laskar
Jihad, a militant organization widely accused by human rights groups and observers of
spearheading violence against Christian in Maluku province.
The leader of Laskar Jihad, Jafar Umar Thalib, recently denied reports of links with
al-Qaida, while confirming he had met bin Laden when both men fought against the
Soviet occupation in the 1980s.
In the Philippines, where the government is fighting an all-out war against a small
terrorist group claiming to be fighting for an Islamic state, President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo sent a message of goodwill to Filipino Muslims.
Arroyo last month issued a proclamation making the festival which ends Ramadan,
Eid al Fitr, a national holiday.
About five percent of the Philippines' 81 million people are Muslims who live mostly in
the southern Mindanao area.
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