Stop pretending that we are safe<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta,
\nkorpur@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
Very few people believe that Indonesia can effectively act to
\nfight terrorism here, because many of the leaders here act like
\nparents trying to hide the fact that their children are chronic
\ndrug addicts despite what their friends and neighbors know.<\/p>\n
When police arrest their children then they would still be
\nbusy making denials, saying the arrest was triggered by people
\njealous of their happy family. They do not care that they do not
\njust endanger themselves but also other people.<\/p>\n
In the case of West Java Deputy Governor Soedarma T.M. and his
\nwife, they questioned the political motives behind last month's
\narrest of their sons for illegal drug use and trafficking. The
\ndoting parents could not deal with the essence of the potential
\nproblem at hand.<\/p>\n
Similarly, many of our leaders are busy looking for an
\ninternational conspiracy behind the Bali bombings. Hundreds of
\ninnocent people were killed and injured in Bali, but they are
\nstill using childish nationalistic jargon to attempt to hide
\nIndonesia's severe situation.<\/p>\n
After the tragedy, Vice President Hamzah Haz was quick to
\nblame Cabinet members like Coordinating Minister for Political
\nand Security Affairs Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the
\ncountry's poor intelligence. President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nissued a statement but her visit to the site and the victims in
\nbright clothing somewhat clouded the seriousness of our leaders
\nas the country was host to another world threat.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the truth in any agenda to the disadvantage to
\nthe country, who will believe us when our long list of failure in
\nfacing terrorism is so naked before the international community?<\/p>\n
Who still wants to listen to Indonesia's argument that it does
\nnot need any assistance in eradicating terrorism or its roots
\nhere? The doubt against Indonesia among its neighbors in this
\nregard was even reflected by the region's potential young leaders
\nin a speech contest here this week.<\/p>\n
Asked about how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) should respond to the bomb blast in Bali, Sarah Lynne
\nDaway, an economics student from the University of the
\nPhilippines, said the regional body should have its own army,
\nraising eyebrows among attending diplomats.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN must have an army pool. The ASEAN soldiers will work to
\ncombat terrorist attacks,\" Daway told the panel of judges during
\nthe ASEAN Young Speakers forum on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Sarah's reply reflects young people's disbelief that Indonesia
\nor other ASEAN members will be able to resolve the terrorism
\nthreat if they act alone. The other 19 speakers from 10 ASEAN
\nmembers seemed to support Daway's stance.<\/p>\n
\"If ASEAN were to continue as a credible regional actor, it
\nhas to show its ability to promptly and effectively respond to
\nimperatives in its domestic and external environment,\" she noted.<\/p>\n
Dayu Nirma Amurwati, an economics student from the University
\nof Indonesia, warned that the war against terrorism could spark
\nresentment even among moderate Muslims in the region.<\/p>\n
\"We have seen Islamic scholars or ordinary Muslims branded as
\neither 'radicals' or 'extremists' and detained due to the
\nsuspicion they are collaborators in global terrorism,\" Dayu said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino Jr., in his opening
\nspeech, condemned the Bali bloodbath and expressed his sadness
\nthat the reputation of Bali had been badly tarnished by the
\nterrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
\"Bali, is not just the jewel of Indonesia, but the jewel of
\nthe region,\" said Severino.<\/p>\n
Bali is a peaceful island. Only when Megawati failed to be
\nappointed president after elections in October 1999, people in
\nBali ran amok. When Megawati eventually won a consolation prize
\nas vice president, Bali quickly returned to peace.<\/p>\n
Most Muslims here are peaceful and tolerant and are willing to
\nwork with their non-Muslim compatriots. However their reputation
\ncan be ruined by very small groups who use Islamic jargon for
\ntheir narrow-minded goals.<\/p>\n
It might be better for all if such groups establish their own
\npolitical parties and contest the 2004 general elections. We will
\nknow how strong their support from Muslim voters will be.<\/p>\n
Indonesia can become a pariah in the world community if the
\nBali blasts are added to the long list of unresolved, barbaric
\nterrorist acts here. Indonesia is a great nation, but it cannot
\ncontinue pretending that it is not a dying nation. It needs
\ninternational help. Many of its people may be of great character,
\nbut the leaders are too selfish in enriching themselves and in
\nmounting their power.<\/p>\n
Let us honestly talk about the nation's problems. Find the
\ndisease and medication. Stop immature behavior, because the world
\nknows our problems. The world will not laugh if we are ready to
\nsee the facts and take the necessary medication. We need outside
\nhelp particularly because any major \"disease\" here also threatens
\nthe existence of other nations.<\/p>\n
\"No single nation can solve the terrorism alone,\" the Filipino
\nstudent said. It is also a reminder for the nation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stop-pretending-that-we-are-safe-1447893297",
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