Bashirs views may be shared by a small number of followers, but not by the many millions of moderates in Indonesia who will have similar views to observers outside Indonesia. Note that his address was to a small crowd of 300 people. Fortunate for him that someone was there to videotape it and what probably would have gone unnoticed is now likely to become a source of concern for a much wider audience. There is no way that the Indonesian government will let his rhetoric affect the direction that Indonesia is moving. But also that because of the type of people he appeals to, they have to be careful that they are not seen to be unreasonably targetting him. The authorities will be keeping close tabs on him, and I am confident that his influence will be contained. I just wish the media wouldn't give him so much credibility and the exposure he wants, they are really dancing to his tune. All he has to do is come out with some more extreme statement, and without any violence occurring he has people adjusting their lives accordingly. It must seem like misson accomplished for him.
