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.