Fatal tragedy in Bali: An act of global terrorism

Fatal tragedy in Bali: An act of global terrorism

Jusuf Wanandi, Founder and member Board of Trustees
Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta

After so many denials by government officials and moderate
Muslim leaders about possible terrorist acts in Indonesia, a
terrible tragedy happened in Bali with the bomb blast last
weekend, killing almost 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.

This act will have deep ramifications for the government, for
Indonesia and the region of Southeast Asia as a whole. The only
way the Indonesian government could overcome its dramatic impact
is to be quick and resolute in getting at the perpetrators,
bringing them to justice and uprooting their organizations and
networks.

The government also has to prevent acts of terrorism from
happening in the future by strengthening its security and
intelligence capabilities, in cooperation with the international
community. They should take steps to eradicate radicalism and
extremism by prosecuting their illegal activities, such as having
illegal arms, supporting and fomenting regional conflicts and
destroying other people's property, like nightclubs and karaoke
bars. These are illegal acts according to the Indonesian Criminal
Code, and have created an environment of lawlessness and conflict
where terrorism can flourish.

So far the radicals have been able to get away with these
activities because the government is very weak. The police has
been compromised, and some of them are believed to be involved
with those radical groups mentioned earlier. The military has
been demoralized and divided and are trying to get even with the
police and the civilian leadership, because their political and
domestic security role has been taken away.

Moderate Muslim leaders have to show more resoluteness against
terrorism undertaken in the name of Islam. The moderates have
tried to convince the radicals and the extremists to use
democratic means, but Bali's terror showed that this will take a
long time and a lot of effort. But this approach is also not
adequate or fool proof to prevent terrorist acts from happening.
The Bali tragedy has put the existence of Indonesia's future
under questions.

If the government fails to be firm and resolute, the loss of
confidence could bring the economy to a halt while social unrest
and regional conflicts could increase. With a weak government,
and more than 40 million people un- or under-employed, the
country could turn into anarchy and even become a failed state.
As Indonesia is perhaps given the last chance, its leaders and
people should rally together to support the government's efforts
to overcome this tragedy.

The question now is: Can Megawati Soekarnoputri be firm and
decisive in fighting terrorism? Can she get to the bottom of this
tragic event? She has been hesitant, because she thought that
Muslim groups are going to oppose her and even bring her down if
she is actively fighting global terrorism.

In fact, moderate Muslim leaders have been publicly
encouraging her to take action against trespasses of criminal
laws, and to punish the perpetrators. But she never consulted
with them or asked for their political support if she has to act
decisively against terror.

After Bali, she showed more leadership and decisiveness. She
may finally show some toughness. She knows that her credibility
and survival are at stake and dependent on her own resoluteness
and toughness. Indonesia's future is also at stake.

She has shown some leadership by calling several meetings of
her cabinet and security people, unifying the intelligence and
forcing the military to support the police in the efforts, as
well as inviting the international community to assist in the
fight.

Another critical problem is how much power the government, the
police and the military should be endowed with to fight
terrorism. The Indonesian dilemma could be appreciated if seen in
the context of the country's long period of authoritarian rule
and the enormous challenges of instituting democratic rules.

A new legal basis to give the police (and the military as a
supporting force) the capability to fight terrorism could be
acceptable, although some would argue that the existing Criminal
Code should be adequate if only there is the political will to
act. However, such legal basis should be limited in scope and
time, transparent and with full accountability on the civilian
government. It should not be of the "anti-subversive" type of
regulation that gives blanket authority and power to the
police/military and there should be no special institution to
enforce it.

The Southeast Asia region is so dependent for its stability
and security on Indonesia, which has half of the regions
population. The region has followed the instabilities of
Indonesia nervously since the crisis and regime change in 1998.
Indonesia's reluctance to take action against global terrorism
and being in self-denial while the region is enduring the
challenge, has greatly diminished Indonesia's influence and
leadership in the region.

In taking action after the Bali tragedy, Indonesia should
recognize that she has to compensate for past inaction and lax
attitudes. Therefore, cooperation with the region (and the
international community) in overcoming this new threat should be
promoted and strengthened.