Sir, “Why Bali?” Hindsight suggests that the World Trade Centre became a target for terrorism because some saw it as the ultimate example of US economic might, in the centre of global capitalism.

Anyone who has visited Kuta will know that it too stands as a symbol of what many Westerners would regard as the worst of our “values”. A walk down its narrow main streets reveals only English signage, Australian food and cheap alcohol, readily consumed.

Some of the thousands of foreign visitors have no thought for the sensibilities of the indigenous population both of Bali (predominantly Hindu) and, particularly, Indonesia (overwhelmingly Muslim). The antithesis of eco-tourism, these visitors often combine lager-lout behaviour with breathtaking cultural arrogance.

This suggests that future targets may have similar characteristics. Simply, any enclave of such “Westernism” may be at risk; but particularly so if it is set in a culturally different environment and makes no amends for this.

Such an explanation does not condone the massacre. Nor can innocent victims bear any responsibility for what happened to them.

However, we should realise that the bombers may have chosen their target for reasons rather more complex than those now supposed (the simple killing of “Westerners”), and carried out their evil with the intent of providing an example for those who, in a similar environment, think likewise.

Yours faithfully,
ALEX MURRAY,
Piazza Louise,
1 Rue Simonis, 1060 Brussels.
October 16.

From Dr Nadeem Malik

Sir, The indiscriminate killing, and the savagery with which it was carried out, in Bali last Saturday serves to remind us just how far we are from winning the much-heralded War on Terror, and of the danger of falling into the so-called clash of civilisations (leading article, October 15).

As an Ahmadi Muslim, I wholeheartedly condemn this act of terror. Islam does not allow the killing of innocent people, whatever the cause may be. Muslims must obey the law of the country they live in and international law; they must work within the legal system to bring about change where necessary.

This is the position adopted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Islam. Ahmadi Muslims are not supporters of American designs in the Middle East and elsewhere, but as Muslims we adhere to the Islamic principles noted above. Unlike the terrorists, we believe that God will ultimately help the just to triumph.

A clash of civilisations is not inevitable; but the koranic principles of absolute justice must be adhered to if such a clash is to be avoided. This applies equally to the self-styled warriors of Islam and to Western leaders.

It is the injustices perpetrated by all sides that will make a clash of civilisations unavoidable.

Yours faithfully,
NADEEM MALIK,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine,
Exhibition Road, SW7 2BX.
n.a.malik@ic.ac.uk
October 16.

From the Director General of The British Council

Sir, The British Council is working in Indonesia and throughout the Muslim world to reach out to the vast, silent Muslim majority which feels nothing but revulsion for terror, but is often suspicious of the West. Muslims and non-Muslims alike will take heart from your editorial of October 15, calling each to dialogue rather than the self-justifying monologues that can only lead to mutual destruction.

Indonesia is a key component in The British Council’s “Connecting Futures” initiative, a new programme which forges links between young people in the UK and in ten countries with mainly Muslim populations. Over the five years that the programme will run, tens of thousands of young people will get the chance to meet via the internet or face to face, where they will exchange ideas on the issues that matter to them.

Two weeks ago I met Mr Hasyim Musadi, the leader of possibly the world’s largest Muslim social and educational organisation, the 40-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), based in Indonesia. At a time when there is much discussion of extremist Indonesian Muslim groups, Mr Musadi demonstrated NU’s commitment to the overwhelmingly moderate and tolerant nature of Islam in South-East Asia by discussing projects to exchange persons and views with Britain’s religious, academic, political and community leaders.

Yours faithfully,
DAVID GREEN,
Director General,
The British Council,
10 Spring Gardens, SW1A 2BN.
October 15.

From Mr David Hyman

Sir, There is no difference between those who deliberately target and slaughter young, innocent people, whether in Bali, Tel Aviv or New York, or the terrorist leaders who send out the bombers, whatever the reasons or excuses given.

Yours faithfully,
DAVID HYMAN,
101 Flood Street, SW3 5TD.
October 15.

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