Indonesia must act on terrorism: Now or never<\/p>\n
Amien Rais, Chairman, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Jakarta<\/p>\n
To many foreigners and Indonesians, Bali had always been their
\nfavorite destination to visit. But then came Oct. 12.<\/p>\n
The Bali attack was an outrage directed both at those from
\nBali and abroad and generally at the Indonesian state. Words
\ncannot describe how grieved I was after visiting the site of the
\nbombing, the wounded in the hospital and witnessing the number of
\nbodies still waiting to be identified.<\/p>\n
To those who lost their loved ones or were injured during this
\nbarbaric attack, I extend to you my deepest sympathies. My heart
\nalso goes out to the many volunteers I have seen working day and
\nnight, hand in hand with doctors and forensic experts in managing
\na crisis center for those who lost their friends and families.
\nMay God Almighty bless them for their efforts and hard work.<\/p>\n
As I told both Australian Prime Minister John Howard and
\nForeign Minister Alexander Downer in Bali several days after the
\nattack, Indonesia welcomes all international forensic and
\ntechnical assistance to bring to justice those responsible for
\nthis atrocity. We should not hesitate to bring to justice the
\nperpetrators of this violent act -- whom I regard as mass
\nmurderers -- regardless of their religion, ideological background
\nand any mass support they may enjoy in this country or elsewhere.
\nBut having said that, we must do this by adhering to democratic
\nprinciples and practices, and by respecting the universal values
\nof tolerance and the rule of law. It would be a fatal error to
\nbelieve that our nascent Indonesian democracy must be sacrificed
\nto restore order and good government. This would hand the
\nextremists a powerful weapon and potent argument in the struggle
\nfor the allegiance of our people.<\/p>\n
I am aware of concerns that, in the event of certain religious
\nleaders being detained or arrested for their alleged involvement
\nin the Bali bombing, there could be a violent backlash from
\nIndonesian Muslims. As a former leader of Muhammadiyah, the
\nnation's second largest Muslim organization and one of the
\nlargest in the world, allow me to tell you this: Although
\nIndonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country, Indonesian
\nMuslims are indeed moderate and among the most religiously
\ntolerant Muslims globally. The vast majority of my fellow
\nIndonesian Muslims demand, as I do, that the government resolve
\nthis case as soon as possible. In this respect, I second the
\nstatement of US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz: \"If
\nthe bombing is found to be the work of Muslim extremists, it's
\ngoing to be the Muslims of Indonesia who in huge numbers are
\ngoing to be angriest\". Let me assure you that Indonesian Muslims
\nare fully behind international efforts to uncover this despicable
\nact of terrorism.<\/p>\n
The response to the threat to Indonesian democracy is first
\nand foremost the responsibility of the political leadership of
\nIndonesia and the Indonesian people. Sadly, the Bali bombing
\nshowed that our leaders have been ineffective in their prime
\nresponsibility of protecting the lives of Indonesian citizens and
\nthose who visit our country. Although I stand firm behind my
\nPresident in her fight against terror, I rightfully quote an
\ninfluential foreign magazine which stated: \"It should not have
\ntaken a deadly inferno to demonstrate to President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's government that stronger action must be taken
\nagainst the extremists now operating nearly at will in
\nIndonesia\".<\/p>\n
The Bali incident has made us fully realize that there is no
\nsafe haven from terrorism on this earth. Terrorism does not
\nacknowledge nor has any respect for religion, norms and values.
\nTerrorists will seek to maximize casualties whenever and wherever
\nthey can. Suddenly many of us no longer feel safe even in
\ncarrying out our day to day lives. Therefore, I plead that the
\nIndonesian government step up Indonesia's efforts to combat every
\nsingle terrorism cell that has penetrated this country, in a
\nswift and powerful manner.<\/p>\n
We now need our best police and armed forces to operate under
\ndemocratic control to bring all terrorists operating in Indonesia
\nto swift justice. But while extremism can be combated in the
\nshort term by force, the only long term solution is through
\nsocial, economic and political action to build a prosperous
\neconomy and functioning democracy under the rule of law.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has become the battleground on which two different
\nworld views will now fight for supremacy. If peace, freedom,
\ndemocracy and prosperity are to defeat the forces of extremism in
\nIndonesia, then our friends will have to provide much more than
\nsympathetic words, and military equipment. It is time for
\nruthless action against extremism, and ruthless action against
\nthe root causes of corruption, economic oppression and inertia
\nthat have allowed extremism to gain a foothold in our country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has now come to a point of no return. Our government
\nand all good Indonesians, who are the vast majority of our
\npeople, must act decisively. It is now or never.<\/p>\n
This article represents his personal views.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-must-act-on-terrorism-now-or-never-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }