The Poso tragedy and its significance for security<\/p>\n
Aleksius Jemadu, Bandung<\/p>\n
Since the first Bali bombing in 2002, terrorist groups have
\nused two different strategies in attempting to accomplish their
\npolitical goals in Indonesia. The first strategy is to target
\nWestern people and property with massive bomb attacks. The second
\nstrategy is to make inroads into the communal conflicts in Maluku
\nand Poso (Central Sulawesi) where they try to prolong the
\nconflict in order to make their presence relevant. The ultimate
\ngoal of the second strategy is to destabilize Indonesia by
\ndestroying the very foundation of its national unity.<\/p>\n
It is within this context that we should understand why the
\nterrorist groups were determined to go to the extent of
\nmercilessly beheading three innocent young girls in Poso on Oct.
\n29, 2005. As Indonesian security authorities increase their
\nvigilance to protect public places, terrorist groups are changing
\ntheir tactics to killing the most vulnerable and unprotected
\nmembers of society: school girls. Thanks to the maturity of the
\nlocal religious communities such blatant provocation has not led
\nto an new outbreak of communal violence.<\/p>\n
Let us examine first the local context of this terrorist
\nattack. To some extent the killings of the three girls in Poso
\nreflects a desperate situation on the part of the provocateurs. A
\nseries of bomb attacks had already taken place beforehand to try
\nand re-ignite the conflict. The Tentena bombing in May 2005 was
\nthe biggest attempt, and dozens of people were killed.<\/p>\n
The encouraging news is that both Muslims and Christians in
\nPoso have strengthened their solidarity to create peace and
\nharmony in their community. The relatively smooth conduct of
\nlocal elections recently is proof that local people are capable
\nof carrying out democratic mechanisms to create legitimate
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
On top of that, to the chagrin of the terrorist and radical
\ngroups, the candidates who won the elections were from joint
\nChristian and Islamic political groups. Thus, the role of the
\nregent of Poso, who is a Christian, and his deputy, who is a
\nMuslim, will be crucial in sustaining the peace between the
\nreligious communities.<\/p>\n
There is, however, no cause for complacency. There are real
\nindications that the terrorist groups have a long-term scenario
\nto increase their activities in the eastern regions of Indonesia.
\nThe interception of a huge quantity of explosives by police in
\nNunukan, East Kalimantan and Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara,
\nrecently, is a clear evidence of the imminence of the security
\nthreat.<\/p>\n
In addition to the above explanation, some political analysts
\noffer an alternative approach that emphasizes the struggle among
\ndifferent political groups, including some military elements,
\nover the exploitation of mining and plantation resources in
\ncertain eastern provinces. According to this explanation, the
\noutbreak of communal violence will open the way for these
\npolitical and economic groups whose objective is to control the
\nexploitation of natural resources.<\/p>\n
Whichever explanation is valid, the heart of the matter is
\nthat there are indeed certain political groups who are keen to
\ntake advantage of the outbreak of religious violence in the
\neastern parts of Indonesia. If this is the case, then Indonesian
\nsecurity authorities have to confront different sources of threat
\nsimultaneously.<\/p>\n
Therefore, there must be the strongest commitment from the top
\nlevel of government to remain vigilant against the increasing
\nactivities of terrorist groups so that there will be no chance
\nfor them to materialize their dangerous agenda.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should try to convince the
\nterrorist groups that Indonesia is too great to be dictated to by
\npersons whose ultimate goal is the breakup of this multiethnic
\nnation.<\/p>\n
The writer is head of the department of international
\nrelations and head of the MA study program in social sciences at
\nParahyangan University, Bandung. He can be reached at
\naljemadu@yahoo.co.uk.<\/p>",
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