Did U.S. stance provoke blasts?<\/p>\n
The Daily Yomiuri
\nAsia News Network
\nTokyo<\/p>\n
A bomb blast at a nightclub in the tourist resort of Bali,
\nIndonesia, killed more than 180 people and injured hundreds. The
\nvictims were largely foreigners, including Australians and
\nEuropeans. The incident also wounded seven Japanese.<\/p>\n
Another bomb exploded almost simultaneously near the island's
\nU.S. consular office, although it caused no casualties. There is
\ngood reason to suspect that these blasts were targeted at
\nforeigners on the island. The bombings were the most heinous
\nincident since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
One week earlier, a terrorist explosion set a French oil
\ntanker ablaze off the Yemen coast.<\/p>\n
We are profoundly concerned about whether the series of recent
\nterrorist attacks is linked to speculation that the United States
\nis almost certain to strike Iraq. The Bali blasts are certain to
\ncreate quite a stir in the international community, amid
\nspeculation that Muslim extremists in Southeast Asia are
\nsuccessfully working to form a terror network.<\/p>\n
Since Sept. 11 last year, Southeast Asian nations have been
\ncampaigning to uproot Islamic extremists. In the Philippines, for
\nexample, counterterrorism troops, with logistic supported from
\nU.S. forces, have campaigned to root out Abu Sayyaf, a radical
\nIslamic separatist group responsible for the kidnapping of many
\npeople, including foreigners.<\/p>\n
Since late 2001, Singaporean and Malaysian authorities have
\nbeen tracking down members of Jemmah Islamia, a group presumably
\nlinked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network.<\/p>\n
Jemmah Islamia is believed to be headed by a Muslim spiritual
\nleader in Indonesia. Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nhas been reluctant to clamp down on Muslim extremists. Her
\nattitude apparently reflects her belief that she needs to
\nconsider Muslim sentiment as the political leader of the world's
\nmost populous Islamic nation.<\/p>\n
This has caused many Southeast Asian nations to criticize
\nIndonesia for its attitude toward Muslim extremists, calling the
\nnation a \"weak link\" in the region's antiterrorism efforts.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the United States is increasingly concerned that
\nIndonesia is on the way to becoming an important foothold for an
\ninternational terrorist network. The U.S. administration has been
\nurging Megawati to get tougher on terrorism.<\/p>\n
At long last, the Indonesian government is stepping up efforts
\nto fight terrorism. The country should not be made a weak link in
\nthe global campaign against terrorism.<\/p>\n
This most recent terrorist incident presents a new challenge
\nfor Japan as it joins the international antiterrorism campaign.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, Japan has been playing a role in the international
\ncampaign against acts of terror in Afghanistan under its
\nAntiterrorism Law. However, it will be difficult for the nation
\nto take similar action in Southeast Asia unless the terrorist
\nbombings in Bali is determined to be linked to the Sept. 11
\nincident.<\/p>\n
Indisputably, the government must extend the mission of
\nMaritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) units to the Indian Ocean in
\nmid-November, when the MSDF operations expire under the temporary
\nAntiterrorism Law. Measures should be taken to create permanent
\nlegislation aimed at enabling Japan to join a global campaign
\nagainst terrorism.<\/p>",
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