Fighting an uneven battle

Fighting an uneven battle

The horrendous bomb attack that occurred in front of the
Australian Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, yesterday morning,
hammers home the fact that there can be no respite in the fight
against terrorism. The undeniable fact is that while terrorists
have the luxury of being able to watch their prey and strike
without warning, the authorities have to be forever on the alert,
unable to allow their vigilance to slacken for even one moment in
the knowledge that the enemy might strike at any time.

It is therefore all the more disturbing that, in the case of
yesterday's attack, the Indonesian authorities -- apparently
lulled by months of comparative peace in the capital city --
appear to have chosen to ignore warnings that were issued only
last week by the American and Australian governments, alerting
their citizens to the possibility of an imminent terrorist attack
in Indonesia. As one may recall, on Aug. 5 last year, a similarly
powerful blast ripped through the front of the JW Marriott Hotel,
which is located in the same business district in which the
Australian Embassy is located. That catastrophe, too, might have
been prevented had the security authorities taken foreign
intelligence warnings of a possible impending attack more
seriously.

Last year's Marriott blast destroyed the front part of the
American franchise establishment as well as parts of several
surrounding buildings. Fourteen innocent lives were lost and 149
people were injured in that incident. So far, at least eight
people have been reported killed in yesterday's bomb attack, and
about a hundred had to be treated for injuries. By comparison, 11
innocent lives were lost in the Marriott blast last year and 149
were injured. However, while yesterday's carnage appeared less
heavy in terms of human lives lost, its political implications
could be considerably worse, considering that it occurred just 10
days before the final presidential run-off election on Sept. 20.
It also remains to be seen what effect this most recent bomb
attack will have on the county's ailing economy.

It is little consolation to know that the police are for the
moment focusing their attention on finding two still-fugitive
master terrorists who they believe were responsible for both the
Bali tragedy in 2002 and the Marriott bombing last year -- the
Malaysians Dr. Azahari and Noordin M. Top. Considering the
evidence they have been able to collect at this moment, police
believe the two are most likely also behind this latest incident
as well.

Detestable is a mild word to convey the horror of yesterday's
bomb attack. Those who are familiar with the Kuningan business
district and embassy row in the morning hours around noon will
find it easy to picture the throngs of people and vehicles
passing the busy avenue during those hours. As easy to understand
is the agony that is felt by thousands of Indonesian residents
who happen to have friends or relatives living or working in
Jakarta -- as was reflected by the countless spontaneous
telephone calls and messages to the media immediately after the
event, expressing outrage and condolences.

Amid the horror of yesterday's catastrophe, though, a glimmer
of light could be noted. For once, the country's top leadership
reacted promptly to the disaster to show their concern. President
Megawati Soekarnoputri broke off her visit to Brunei Darussalam,
where she was attending the wedding of Brunei's crown prince, to
inspect the site of the tragedy and visit the victims of the
attack in hospital. Minister of Health Ahmad Suyudi and other
cabinet ministers also arrived on the site to issue the necessary
instructions to their subordinates.

One last note, however, needs to be made. It seems to many of
us that after the good work they did in Bali in 2002, our police
officers and intelligence agencies have somehow allowed their
vigilance to slacken. Let yesterday's bomb attack be a strong
reminder, not only them but for all of us, that the fight against
terrorism knows no respite. Not only must further attacks be
prevented, the seeds of terrorism must be eliminated at the
source, not with force, but with wisdom and tact. In conclusion,
let us join in the pain and in the sorrow of those who suffer and
who have lost their beloved in this horrendous incident.