Azahari, hard work and stupidity

Azahari, hard work and stupidity

If there was ever an occasion when the words "terrorism" and
"good news" can ever be used in the same sentence, then
Wednesday's police raid that led to the death of bombmaker Dr.
Azahari was certainly one of them.

It had been a long time coming. The work of the notorious
Demolition Man is believed to have been behind four of the worst
terrorist attacks in Indonesia -- the Bali bombings of 2002, the
JW Marriott Hotel bombing in 2003, the Kuningan bombing in
Jakarta in 2004, and last month's bombings in Kuta and Jimbaran.

In many respects, this Malaysian bombmaker was atypical in
every sense of the word. He was a well-educated and worldly man
who gained a degree from a British university.

Our National Police should be given kudos for their latest
success. After years of evasion, it was no small feat to capture
this man. Azahari's demise certainly handicaps the terrorist
network that has embedded itself into the country. The police
ring has increasingly tightened around Azahari's group. Their
resources and network have slowly been restricted making it
increasingly difficult to launch attacks the scale of the first
Bali bombing in 2002.

We should also be proud that the discovery of Azahari's
hideout was not brought about by the employment of coercive
political measures -- which some advocate Indonesia should adopt
-- but rather good, investigative police work and intelligence.

But it is too simple to say that Azahari's death marks a
turning point in Indonesia's fight against terrorism. If
anything, Wednesday's siege of Azahari's hideout in East Java
proves that he and his cohorts are a dedicated lot. Ready to die
for their misguided brand of religion, just as we are to defend
this nation against people like him.

After years of living underground, it is certain that Azahari
would have passed down his knowledge and converted more than a
mere few to his treacherous path.

Smaller-scale attacks earlier this year have shown the span of
the terrorist network, with recruits from one end of the
archipelago to the other being arrested for terror activities.

Neither must we forget that Azahari's compatriot, Nordic M.
Top, remains at large and has proven to be just as slippery to
track down as the bombmaker.

Just because the tumor has been lifted, does not mean the
cancer has not spread to other parts.

Vigilance has been a key in this country's slow
countermeasures towards the terrorist threat. A series of major
bombings in 2000 -- in front of the Philippine ambassador's
residence, Jakarta Stock Exchange and the Christmas Eve bombings
-- jolted the nation's consciousness to the presence of terrorism
here. However, it seems that is was not until the 2002 Bali
bombings was there a unified political will that serious
concerted action be taken.

It is this awareness that will carry this nation through its
fight to ensure that all terrorists throughout the country are
truly weeded out. Without being gloomy, we should not pat
ourselves in the back just yet. It was this laissez faire
attitude that got us into the terrorist hole in the first place.

This kind reckless attitude was recently displayed by Poso
Regent Piet Inkiriwang. When confronted by journalists in Jakarta
about the recent resurgence of communal killings, he asked that
the situation not be "over-exposed" since it would damage the
regency's image.

With a warped logic akin to a child, he argued that there was
no need to focus on events in Poso so much since similar murders
and bombings also happened in other parts of the country.

For a person so relieved of his senses, this regent may need
to be relieved of his job also!

We feel sorry and are fearful for the people of Poso to be led
by someone whose common sense can justify the muting of truly
heinous crimes committed in the regency. Given his statement, it
is no surprise that the issue of communal violence and terrorism
in Poso remains a recurring threat. Let us pray that there are
more responsible leaders among us than Pete Inkiriwang.

Whether in Jakarta, Bali or Poso, the threat remains the same.
Just because one is in Papua, for example, where no specific
terrorist attack has occurred, does make one immune to attacks
caused by communal extremism.

Even an Indonesian musician making a simple living in Jordan
can become a victim of terrorism, as the case of Perry
Pattiselanno, who was killed in the Amman bombing earlier this
week.

The smell won't go away just because Regent Pete, or some
other publicity seeking official, refuses to speak about the
stink.

Azahari is gone. But terrorism did not begin with him, nor
will it end with his death.