Fighting an uneven battle<\/p>\n
The horrendous bomb attack that occurred in front of the
\nAustralian Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, yesterday morning,
\nhammers home the fact that there can be no respite in the fight
\nagainst terrorism. The undeniable fact is that while terrorists
\nhave the luxury of being able to watch their prey and strike
\nwithout warning, the authorities have to be forever on the alert,
\nunable to allow their vigilance to slacken for even one moment in
\nthe knowledge that the enemy might strike at any time.<\/p>\n
It is therefore all the more disturbing that, in the case of
\nyesterday's attack, the Indonesian authorities -- apparently
\nlulled by months of comparative peace in the capital city --
\nappear to have chosen to ignore warnings that were issued only
\nlast week by the American and Australian governments, alerting
\ntheir citizens to the possibility of an imminent terrorist attack
\nin Indonesia. As one may recall, on Aug. 5 last year, a similarly
\npowerful blast ripped through the front of the JW Marriott Hotel,
\nwhich is located in the same business district in which the
\nAustralian Embassy is located. That catastrophe, too, might have
\nbeen prevented had the security authorities taken foreign
\nintelligence warnings of a possible impending attack more
\nseriously.<\/p>\n
Last year's Marriott blast destroyed the front part of the
\nAmerican franchise establishment as well as parts of several
\nsurrounding buildings. Fourteen innocent lives were lost and 149
\npeople were injured in that incident. So far, at least eight
\npeople have been reported killed in yesterday's bomb attack, and
\nabout a hundred had to be treated for injuries. By comparison, 11
\ninnocent lives were lost in the Marriott blast last year and 149
\nwere injured. However, while yesterday's carnage appeared less
\nheavy in terms of human lives lost, its political implications
\ncould be considerably worse, considering that it occurred just 10
\ndays before the final presidential run-off election on Sept. 20.
\nIt also remains to be seen what effect this most recent bomb
\nattack will have on the county's ailing economy.<\/p>\n
It is little consolation to know that the police are for the
\nmoment focusing their attention on finding two still-fugitive
\nmaster terrorists who they believe were responsible for both the
\nBali tragedy in 2002 and the Marriott bombing last year -- the
\nMalaysians Dr. Azahari and Noordin M. Top. Considering the
\nevidence they have been able to collect at this moment, police
\nbelieve the two are most likely also behind this latest incident
\nas well.<\/p>\n
Detestable is a mild word to convey the horror of yesterday's
\nbomb attack. Those who are familiar with the Kuningan business
\ndistrict and embassy row in the morning hours around noon will
\nfind it easy to picture the throngs of people and vehicles
\npassing the busy avenue during those hours. As easy to understand
\nis the agony that is felt by thousands of Indonesian residents
\nwho happen to have friends or relatives living or working in
\nJakarta -- as was reflected by the countless spontaneous
\ntelephone calls and messages to the media immediately after the
\nevent, expressing outrage and condolences.<\/p>\n
Amid the horror of yesterday's catastrophe, though, a glimmer
\nof light could be noted. For once, the country's top leadership
\nreacted promptly to the disaster to show their concern. President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri broke off her visit to Brunei Darussalam,
\nwhere she was attending the wedding of Brunei's crown prince, to
\ninspect the site of the tragedy and visit the victims of the
\nattack in hospital. Minister of Health Ahmad Suyudi and other
\ncabinet ministers also arrived on the site to issue the necessary
\ninstructions to their subordinates.<\/p>\n
One last note, however, needs to be made. It seems to many of
\nus that after the good work they did in Bali in 2002, our police
\nofficers and intelligence agencies have somehow allowed their
\nvigilance to slacken. Let yesterday's bomb attack be a strong
\nreminder, not only them but for all of us, that the fight against
\nterrorism knows no respite. Not only must further attacks be
\nprevented, the seeds of terrorism must be eliminated at the
\nsource, not with force, but with wisdom and tact. In conclusion,
\nlet us join in the pain and in the sorrow of those who suffer and
\nwho have lost their beloved in this horrendous incident.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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