Terrorism looms large<\/p>\n
Thursday's bomb attacks in Makassar are another reminder that
\nthe threat of terrorism still looms large in this country. The
\nblast at McDonald's in the South Sulawesi capital also confirms
\nour worse fear: Terrorists are unpredictable when it comes to the
\ntiming, venue and target of their attacks.<\/p>\n
Our heart and sympathy are with the victims of the latest bomb
\nattacks in this country. Three people were killed and 11 others
\ninjured on the very day that they and their relatives were
\nsupposed to rejoice and celebrate Idul Fitri, the end of the
\nRamadhan fasting month. Instead tragedy struck them.<\/p>\n
If it is any consolation to them, they are not the only
\nvictims here. The bomb attacks in Makassar, coming so closely on
\nthe heels of the Oct. 12 bombings in Bali, have impacted the
\nentire nation. They have instilled further fear in all of us.<\/p>\n
Given that terrorists can attack at any time and anywhere, and
\nwith devastating consequences, no person can feel safe going
\nabout his or her daily business.<\/p>\n
In October, it was a bar and a nightclub; on Thursday, it was
\na fast-food outlet; in 2000, it was churches; and still, in 2000,
\nit was the Jakarta Stock Exchange building. In 2000, it was on
\nChristmas Eve, on Thursday, they struck on Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
We can find some comfort that since the October Bali bomb
\nattacks, the government of President Megawati has finally shown a
\nstronger commitment to deal with the threat of terrorism. The
\npolitical will, which had been missing until then, is there now.<\/p>\n
The police, now much more empowered than before in tackling
\nterrorism, have made some progress in their investigations,
\nincluding the bombings in Bali and the 2000 Christmas bombings
\nacross the capital. Even the investigation of last week's
\nMakassar bombings seemed to have made some inroads.<\/p>\n
But they are not enough. Far from it.<\/p>\n
Police may be better at investigating today, but their
\nintelligence capability is still found wanting. They may be about
\nto solve some of the terrorist attack cases, but they are still
\nunable to anticipate, let alone defuse, future attacks.<\/p>\n
The challenge for the police, and for the government's entire
\nintelligence apparatus, is to eradicate the threat completely. It
\nlooks like a tall order, but that is what it takes to restore
\npeace and tranquility to this country of ours.<\/p>\n
For now, it is not so much a question of whether terrorists
\nwill attack again, but when, where and how devastating the next
\nattack will be. There is not much comfort in that.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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