Bali bombings confirmation of nation's image as unsafe

Bali bombings confirmation of nation's image as unsafe

Bantarto Bandoro, Jakarta

We still remember vividly how the Bali bombings in 2002, which
claimed more 202 lives, came at a time when the country, under
the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri, was seen as very slow
to act against terrorism.

Saturday's blasts on Bali came as the prices of fuel were
raised causing public anxiety.

It seemed Bali had only just put the 2002 terror attacks
behind it. The tourism industry, the mainstay of the economy, was
on the road to recovery, and the government was considering a new
bill on intelligence.

The bombings in Kuta and Jimbaran areas -- which claimed at
least 22 lives and injured another 100 people -- are a major blow
to the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as it tries to
improve the country's international image and internal security
through the enactment of certain polices.

The bombing will likely revive the call -- earlier initiated
by some members of the international community -- for Indonesia
to be listed among countries most vulnerable to terrorist
attacks.

President Susilo was once praised by members of the
international community, particularly the United States, for
cracking down on terrorism. Yet they still expressed nervousness
several months ago that another major attack in Indonesia could
be in the works. Much of the attention was focused, however, on
the capital, Jakarta, not Bali. The latest attacks came a month
after the President warned of possible terrorist attacks.

If there was foreknowledge of the bombings, the government
should have been more serious in its surveillance and
anticipation of the attacks. The bombings further exposed
Indonesia's weakness in its intelligence networking and
highlights the fact that the country is the region's weakest link
in the fight against terror.

In a show of deep sympathy for the victims of the bombing and
steadfast determination to investigate the tragedy, Susilo and
his security advisers visited Bali. Whether the President's
statement, that the government will do its utmost to hunt down
the perpetrators, leads to speedy action will depend partly on
the President's political calculations of the cost and benefits
of crushing a terrorist group allegedly linked to the country's
militant Muslims.

Susilo's path toward national leadership was among other
things due the support provided by Islamic political parties.

Bali, an unexpected target of terrorists, has no apparent
strategic value, nor was it a favorite haunt of, for example, al-
Qaeda's preferred target, the westerners, particularly Americans.
But no one can say what goes on in the minds of terrorists. The
fact that Bali has suffered fresh attacks is more an indication
that -- whoever they are -- the terrorists are all around us.

Speedy and more coordinated measures against the perpetrators
must immediately be taken by the government to maintain public
confidence. There were already indications that the government
was becoming unpopular due to its new policy on fuel prices.
Susilo will certainly be more alienated still from the public if
he fails to keep his promise to investigate the tragedy. What we
all want to see is tougher action by the government against
terrorism.

The bombings will lead to a massive campaign by the government
against terror But its sustainability will most likely depend on
how the government reacts to new challenges and the response of
the public.

Now that terrorism has again ruined the international image of
our country, the government must be more serious in dealing with
terrorist attacks and be given the full mandate to go ahead and
fight terrorism. Now it is up to the government to provide
security to foreigners and locals, as a reflection of its resolve
to take concrete action in the face of this clear danger.
Concrete and realistic action is imperative if the government is
to avoid further damage to its reputation and credibility.

The Bali attacks were more than just a problem of security and
terrorism. Unless this government can successfully address the
imminent and real threat of terror, any remaining confidence in
Indonesia's business and investment environment will certainly
fade away. Tourist-dependent Bali is again in jeopardy.
Indonesia's State Minister for National Development Planning Sri
Mulyani Indrawati was reported as saying that Saturday night's
bombings were likely to affect the country's economic growth for
2005. Meaning that there would be a very hard quarter for
Indonesia and the attacks would certainly increase the country's
economic burden.

Terrorism, in whatever form, will continue to be a grave
threat to national stability and security. The government clearly
has a lot of things to do. It must now initiate more decisive
national measures to contain the threat of terrorism . With the
attacks on Bali island -- and if another series of terrorist acts
were to occur following the capture of the perpetrators --
perhaps it is time for the government to use national security
concerns to justify the introduction of more decisive and, if
necessary, repressive, antiterrorist measures. Terrorists must
not be feared, but confronted at all costs.

The most important lesson we can learn from the Oct. 1
bombings is that the attacks have further strengthened
international perceptions of Indonesia as a very unsafe country,
or they may support the view that Indonesia is a safe haven for
terrorists. The government should not delay its pursuit of a more
aggressive and indiscriminate strategy against terrorism.

The writer is director of the Scientific Infrastructure and
Publication; and editor of The Indonesian Quarterly, Centre for
Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta. He can be reached
at bandoro@csis.or.id.