Fatal tragedy in Bali: An act of global terrorism<\/p>\n
Jusuf Wanandi, Founder and member Board of Trustees
\nCentre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After so many denials by government officials and moderate
\nMuslim leaders about possible terrorist acts in Indonesia, a
\nterrible tragedy happened in Bali with the bomb blast last
\nweekend, killing almost 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.<\/p>\n
This act will have deep ramifications for the government, for
\nIndonesia and the region of Southeast Asia as a whole. The only
\nway the Indonesian government could overcome its dramatic impact
\nis to be quick and resolute in getting at the perpetrators,
\nbringing them to justice and uprooting their organizations and
\nnetworks.<\/p>\n
The government also has to prevent acts of terrorism from
\nhappening in the future by strengthening its security and
\nintelligence capabilities, in cooperation with the international
\ncommunity. They should take steps to eradicate radicalism and
\nextremism by prosecuting their illegal activities, such as having
\nillegal arms, supporting and fomenting regional conflicts and
\ndestroying other people's property, like nightclubs and karaoke
\nbars. These are illegal acts according to the Indonesian Criminal
\nCode, and have created an environment of lawlessness and conflict
\nwhere terrorism can flourish.<\/p>\n
So far the radicals have been able to get away with these
\nactivities because the government is very weak. The police has
\nbeen compromised, and some of them are believed to be involved
\nwith those radical groups mentioned earlier. The military has
\nbeen demoralized and divided and are trying to get even with the
\npolice and the civilian leadership, because their political and
\ndomestic security role has been taken away.<\/p>\n
Moderate Muslim leaders have to show more resoluteness against
\nterrorism undertaken in the name of Islam. The moderates have
\ntried to convince the radicals and the extremists to use
\ndemocratic means, but Bali's terror showed that this will take a
\nlong time and a lot of effort. But this approach is also not
\nadequate or fool proof to prevent terrorist acts from happening.
\nThe Bali tragedy has put the existence of Indonesia's future
\nunder questions.<\/p>\n
If the government fails to be firm and resolute, the loss of
\nconfidence could bring the economy to a halt while social unrest
\nand regional conflicts could increase. With a weak government,
\nand more than 40 million people un- or under-employed, the
\ncountry could turn into anarchy and even become a failed state.
\nAs Indonesia is perhaps given the last chance, its leaders and
\npeople should rally together to support the government's efforts
\nto overcome this tragedy.<\/p>\n
The question now is: Can Megawati Soekarnoputri be firm and
\ndecisive in fighting terrorism? Can she get to the bottom of this
\ntragic event? She has been hesitant, because she thought that
\nMuslim groups are going to oppose her and even bring her down if
\nshe is actively fighting global terrorism.<\/p>\n
In fact, moderate Muslim leaders have been publicly
\nencouraging her to take action against trespasses of criminal
\nlaws, and to punish the perpetrators. But she never consulted
\nwith them or asked for their political support if she has to act
\ndecisively against terror.<\/p>\n
After Bali, she showed more leadership and decisiveness. She
\nmay finally show some toughness. She knows that her credibility
\nand survival are at stake and dependent on her own resoluteness
\nand toughness. Indonesia's future is also at stake.<\/p>\n
She has shown some leadership by calling several meetings of
\nher cabinet and security people, unifying the intelligence and
\nforcing the military to support the police in the efforts, as
\nwell as inviting the international community to assist in the
\nfight.<\/p>\n
Another critical problem is how much power the government, the
\npolice and the military should be endowed with to fight
\nterrorism. The Indonesian dilemma could be appreciated if seen in
\nthe context of the country's long period of authoritarian rule
\nand the enormous challenges of instituting democratic rules.<\/p>\n
A new legal basis to give the police (and the military as a
\nsupporting force) the capability to fight terrorism could be
\nacceptable, although some would argue that the existing Criminal
\nCode should be adequate if only there is the political will to
\nact. However, such legal basis should be limited in scope and
\ntime, transparent and with full accountability on the civilian
\ngovernment. It should not be of the \"anti-subversive\" type of
\nregulation that gives blanket authority and power to the
\npolice\/military and there should be no special institution to
\nenforce it.<\/p>\n
The Southeast Asia region is so dependent for its stability
\nand security on Indonesia, which has half of the regions
\npopulation. The region has followed the instabilities of
\nIndonesia nervously since the crisis and regime change in 1998.
\nIndonesia's reluctance to take action against global terrorism
\nand being in self-denial while the region is enduring the
\nchallenge, has greatly diminished Indonesia's influence and
\nleadership in the region.<\/p>\n
In taking action after the Bali tragedy, Indonesia should
\nrecognize that she has to compensate for past inaction and lax
\nattitudes. Therefore, cooperation with the region (and the
\ninternational community) in overcoming this new threat should be
\npromoted and strengthened.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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