RI churches should not be targets<\/p>\n
Aleksius Jemadu, Bandung<\/p>\n
Since the killing of Azahari bin Husin in Malang on Nov. 9, 2005
\nthere has been a lot of discussion about possible terrorist
\nattacks around Christmas time. The Indonesian security
\nauthorities have credible evidence that the terrorist groups plan
\nto bomb churches and other buildings during the holidays. The
\nterrorists operating in Indonesia are notorious for their tactics
\nto stir up religious conflict in order to sustain the relevance
\nof their struggle.<\/p>\n
On top of that, the death of Azahari could trigger even more
\ndeadly attacks as the terrorists seek to convince the Indonesian
\ngovernment that they still exist and are capable of retaliating
\nwith new modes of operation.<\/p>\n
Some people might ask what is the reason that the terrorist
\ngroups choose Christmas as a time for their bomb attacks? What
\nwas the sin of the churchgoers in the year 2000 whey they became
\nvictims of series of horrendous bomb attacks? It is high time to
\nchallenge a common misconception among the radical and terrorist
\ngroups who associate the Christians with the United States and
\nother Western powers. They believe that whatever or whoever is
\nassociated with their Western enemy is qualified as target of a
\nbomb attack.<\/p>\n
As far as the Indonesian Christians are concerned, there is a
\nneed to convince the terrorists that the U.S. policies in
\nAfghanistan and Iraq are not conducted on behalf of the Christian
\nreligious teachings. It can even be said that the Christians here
\nhave nothing to do with the U.S. military occupation in Iraq.
\nChristian leaders all around the world condemn the killing of the
\ninnocent people whoever the actor is behind such killing.<\/p>\n
If the U.S. policies in Afghanistan and Iraq are not conducted
\nin the name of Christianity, then an alternative explanation
\nshould be found in the more secular calculation of political
\npower. The realist approach in international relations tells us
\nthat military superiority has an inherent inclination to preserve
\nitself. It even has a natural tendency to enlarge itself and seek
\nto eliminate all forces that come in its way.<\/p>\n
As the only superpower after the end of the cold war, the
\nUnited States has no other choice but to consolidate its superior
\nstatus. From this explanation, it is clear that the roots of the
\nU.S. global domination should be understood as the logical
\nconsequences of materialist forces that are embedded in the whole
\nprocess of industrialization.<\/p>\n
So far, the Indonesian Christians are not really affected by
\nthe terrorist threat as they continue to prepare themselves to
\ncelebrate Christmas either at home or in churches. After all, not
\nall parties were happy when Jesus Christ was born around 2000
\nyears ago.<\/p>\n
According to the Gospel of Matthew (in the Bible), upon
\nhearing the news about the birth of Jesus Christ, King Herod, the
\nruler of Judea at the time, was furious and tried to find ways
\nhow to kill the newly born king. When Herod realized that the
\nwise men from the East had tricked him, he spread terror among
\nthe people of Bethlehem by killing all (male) babies under the
\nage of two in that little town. Today, the figure of King Herod
\nis seen as the symbol of hatred in the human heart whose only
\ndesire is to destroy the lives of other people for the sake of
\nsecular ambition.<\/p>\n
While the birth of Jesus Christ was bad news for King Herod,
\nit was a time for great joy for the shepherds who were taking
\ncare of their sheep on that holy night. It was in the simple
\nheart of these low and humble people that Jesus Christ found a
\nwarm reception.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, the power of terror that was manifested in
\nthe personality of King Herod had been defeated by the power of
\npeace in the personality of Jesus Christ. Let those who celebrate
\nChristmas enjoy that peace and share it with others so that we
\nall may live in peace and harmony as a nation.<\/p>\n
The writer is the Head of the Department of International
\nRelations and the Head of the M.A. Study Program in Social
\nSciences at Parahyangan University in Bandung. His field of
\nresearch focuses on civil and internal conflicts. He can be
\nreached at aljemadu@yahoo.co.uk.<\/p>",
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