Who's radicalizing Indonesia's schools?

"The best avenue for radicals to reach out to people here is through their critique of government corruption,'' says Marcoes. "Many people see the failure of the government to make cleaner government, stop vice, and help the poor, and so some will turn to sharia as the answer."

A recent survey of 30 pesantren in East Java by the Indonesian Center for the Study of Democracy and Human Rights found that the majority of students at pesantren associated with Muhammadiyah, one of the country's two largest Muslim organizations, view America as an enemy, believe the Bali attack was organized by the US to "damage the image of Islam,'' and say they are eager to join a jihad.

"Ten years ago we didn't have this rhetoric of jihad, the focus on US behavior in the world. This is largely a consequence of the post-Sept. 11 environment,'' says a longtime researcher of Indonesian Islam. "You can say this youthful radicalism is just rhetoric - they won't ever actually go on a jihad - but it's still alarming."

This scholar, who asked that his name not be used, says free distribution of texts sponsored by Saudi charities has contributed to the spread of some radical ideas in Indonesia, but far more important are internet news coverage and chat-rooms on the US war on terror.

"America's arrogance is so clear, that's why I don't like America,'' says Nuzuliza, a 20-year-old student at Assadiqiah pesantren in Jakarta. "I really think they're against Muslims - the invasion of Iraq doesn't make any sense otherwise."

Nuzuliza, whose face is framed by the blue scarf she uses to cover her hair, says she was particularly upset by the recent conviction of Bashir. "He's an old man, a good man, and he's innocent. I think our government bowed to American pressure."

Some Indonesian politicians are also giving voice to anger over US policies. Earlier this month, Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz called the US "the terrorist king" for its war in Iraq. A week ago, Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, the famously tolerant Nahdlatul Ulama, also lashed out at America. He said that the JI doesn't exist and "radicalism may happen, but it is only a reaction to injustice that the US itself has perpetrated, for example, in the case of Palestine."

His comments were considered so alarming that both US Ambassador Ralph Boyce and Australian Ambassador David Ritchie rushed to meet with him this past week.

To be sure, scholars say they doubt a sea change is taking place within Indonesian Islam. Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group estimates that perhaps as many as five out of Indonesia's 10,000 pesantren are associated with Jemaah Islamiyah.

Though there are undoubtedly more schools preaching radical ideas, there are still thousands of Indonesian pesantren that adhere to their tolerant traditions. "There is a small trend of radical thought in Indonesian Islam,'' says Marcoes of the Asia Foundation. "But Indonesian Islam is a spectrum, and the biggest part of that spectrum remains moderate."

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