In Sumatra, where Islamic separatist groups were active, recent findings of mass graves underscore just how brutal the suppression effort was. Using the New Freedoms Now that the political system has been unshackled, parties such as the newly formed Star Moon Party are pushing for a greater Muslim role in Indonesia. Its members, rooted in the ideals of a Muslim party outlawed in the 1960s, hope to use the new freedoms to build Islam's political role in Indonesia. He wants to ban the use of alcohol and to see Suharto-era laws restricting Islamic worship repealed. More broadly, the party wants to redistribute wealth away from ethnic-Chinese Indonesians who the party contends have disproportionately dominated business.
Some Islamic parties distrust the West.
The failure of President B.J. Habibie's new government to release a number of Islamic prisoners, while other political prisoners have been set free, is seen by some Muslims as a sign that Western powers are dictating Indonesia's fate. Particularly explosive is the contention of these Muslim leaders that reports of rapes of ethnic-Chinese women in May are fabrications. Religion Seen as a Tool More-moderate Islamic parties hope to avoid such divisions and gain acceptance. They say religion should be a tool by which to initiate necessary political and economic reforms. We're for an Indonesia that includes everybody.