We must fight rampant crimes<\/p>\n
At least 14 people were killed after a bomb exploded at the JW
\nMarriott Hotel's driveway in Jakarta on Tuesday, almost a year
\nafter bombs ripped through two nightclubs at the Kuta tourist
\nresort in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002.<\/p>\n
We do not know when these criminals will stop damaging this
\ncountry. We pray for the families of the bomb blast victims but
\nwe must also fight these sadistic crimes with concrete steps.<\/p>\n
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais has
\nasked the people not to blame Tuesday's bomb blast on one
\nanother.<\/p>\n
Bali and Jakarta have become the target of criminals. The
\nterrorists must have certain targets. Houses of worship and
\nbusiness districts may be among these targets.<\/p>\n
All of us who deplore crimes should not give terrorism any
\nplace. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Bombing<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Bombing Indonesia, hit on Tuesday by its second
\nhigh-profile terrorist bombing in less than a year, is acquiring
\na reputation as a soft target for international terrorism. The
\ncountry's oil, large Muslim population and strategic location are
\nall contributing factors. But as important as anything are the
\ncumulative effects of chronic misgovernment.<\/p>\n
It isn't yet clear who is responsible for yesterday's car
\nbombing of the Jakarta Marriott Hotel, which killed 10 to 15
\npeople and injured about 150. Early indications, including the
\nchoice of an American-owned target, suggest that al-Qaeda or one
\nof its local affiliates may be involved.<\/p>\n
There is nothing inevitable about Indonesia, the country with
\nthe world's largest Muslim population, becoming a haven for
\nterrorists. The characteristic forms of Islam in Indonesia are
\nmoderate and tolerant.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri enjoys far more democratic
\nlegitimacy than her predecessors. Sadly, she has not so far used
\nher authority to press for needed reforms. She is not doing
\nnearly enough to subordinate the country's harsh and corrupt
\nmilitary to civilian control and promote the rule of law. Without
\nthis, victory over terrorism will be hard to achieve. The Bush
\nadministration is right to offer Jakarta help in the common
\nstruggle against terrorism. It must also insist, however, that
\ncivil liberties and democratic accountability not become the
\nfirst victims of the Megawati government's enhanced antiterror
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
Helping fight terror in Indonesia should not mean handing
\nunchecked power to its already unaccountable army, which remains
\nrepressive more than five years after the fall of the Soeharto
\ndictatorship. Megawati has wrongly indulged the military. She has
\nallowed it to retain excessive influence over economic and
\npolitical life, let high-ranking officers escape accountability
\nfor massacres in East Timor and unleashed a ruthless new campaign
\nagainst separatists in the province of Aceh. Fighting terror
\neffectively requires winning the cooperation of ordinary
\nIndonesians, not further alienating them through military
\nhighhandedness.<\/p>\n
-- The New York Times<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/we-must-fight-rampant-crimes-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }