AT the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, the Ashriyyah Nurul Iman pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Parung, Bogor, looked deserted. There were no classes. The mosque was less crowded, and only a few religious study sessions were going on. Indeed, the school had gone on full vacation from the first day of Ramadan. All of the students had gone back to their hometowns, to return after the Idul Fitri holidays.

Scores of buses escorted the stu