The Role of Muslim Groups in Combating Terrorism in Indonesia: A Study of the Nahdlatul Ulama Under the New Order

This paper focuses on the role of Muslim groups especially Nahdlatul Ulama in\ud combating terrorism in Indonesia. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is one of the largest\ud Islamic organization in Indonesia. It has many followers and sympathizers in\ud Indonesia. Therefore, NU has the important role to participate in fighting\ud terrorism in Indonesia. The series bombings incident in Indonesia have happened\ud since after the 11 September 2001 World Trade Centre and Pentagon attacks in\ud the United States until now influence NU to formulate strategies in fighting\ud terrorism. The main purpose of this research is to analyze the counter terrorism\ud strategy and action undertaken NU. Qualitative method is used by this research.\ud Qualitative research uses some methods such as document analysis and historical\ud method of study. NU has several strategies in countering terrorism namely raising\ud awareness of the United Nation???s Global counter terrorism strategy and expanding\ud the fight against terrorism to include local people and students. NU has conducted\ud several actions to implement its strategies, such as Hasyim Muzadi as NU chair\ud proposed to the Thai government to cooperate between Indonesian Muslims and\ud Thai as a way of resolving tensions within Southern Thailand. NU removed the\ud roadblocks to cooperation namely removing the perception among many Islamic\ud organizations that counter terrorism strategies have aimed for the persecution of\ud Muslim around the globe. NU leaders have worked hand-in-hand with\ud government and common people both Muslims and non-Muslims to create\ud strategy in fighting terrorism and implement the strategy in action