Intolerance, hatred fertile soil for terrorism

Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post

The Air Force jet fighters were maneuvering on Sunday morning at low altitude near the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta, in preparation for the Indonesian Military's (TNI) 60th anniversary.

Such a scene would usually have invoked a sense of pride in those below; the exercise becoming for them a symbol of the nation's strength and a demonstration of the state's readiness to protect its citizens.

Only this time it was annoying, at least for a group of desperate men who were discussing the increased fuel prices and also the fresh attacks on Bali.

"I am just afraid the jets will fall," said one of them, citing recent air crashes involving both commercial and military aircraft.

"The pilots should fly directly to Bali to hunt down the terrorists. They don't need to show off here," another said.

Their despair over the running of the nation, the fuel price increases in particular, meant that rather than giving them a sense of security, the jets' presence only made them feel more vulnerable.

On Saturday, just four days before Muslims enter the fasting month of Ramadhan, fuel prices were raised by an average of 126.6 percent. The people had already been feeling anxious over the recent bird flu fatalities in the country and polio's reemergence.

And then Bali was bombed again. Three years ago, 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, had been killed in a terrorist attack on the island. On Saturday, over 25 people were killed and dozens of others injured. People's suffering seems complete now. Innocent people were killed and Bali's economy was dealt another blow. The terrorists have succeeded in humiliating the nation.

After working hard to regain global trust following the Oct. 12 bombing in 2002, the Balinese have overnight been ruined. It would not come as a surprise if action was taken against non- Balinese residents, migrants from Java in particular. Emotional demands, like calls for self-rule, may increase in the coming weeks.

World leaders condemned Saturday's barbaric acts. As usual, many groups from a range of religious and social backgrounds will hold press conferences to formally denounce the attacks and emphasize that Indonesia has zero tolerance for terrorism.

We Indonesians always insist that terrorism, fundamentalism and extremism (of any kind) do not have a place in the hearts of the majority here, because we are a peaceful nation. We strongly believe that only a very small number of people are responsible for these evil acts. But no matter how small they are, terrorism in this country has become an alarming issue, even by world standards.

Let us look into the mirror: Are we really as peaceful and as tolerant as we have proclaimed ourselves to be to the world? Maybe -- though we long to deny it -- we are not that sincere and honest.

There are many among us who are becoming intolerant of those who are of a different faith, ideology or political party. The forced closures of places of worship, including the Ahmadiyah mosques, have been incidents many of us have chosen to ignore. Differences in religious interpretation or even cultural teachings are regarded as unpardonable sins. The government, in many cases, is also reluctant to enforce the law -- or is this incompetency -- because it does not want to create "unnecessary problems" just to protect minorities.

Is the choice of Bali as the target of bombings just because many foreigners -- or "infidels" -- visit the island? Or is it because the Balinese have a different religion and culture from the majority of the population. Do the terrorists feel less guilty killing people on Bali?

Do we really condemn all acts of terrorism? If so, our condemnation should be reflected in our daily conduct. Or are some acts less condemned than others?

Innocent victims have fallen in Bali, and in many other places in the country. And more victims will fall if we are not prepared to admit that we are a sick nation.

The state has an obligation to protect its citizens and anyone staying or living in its territory. But the people are the most important part of the state. We cannot just blame the government. No matter how strong the government is in its fight against terrorism, if its lacks public support, more people will fall victim to those who maybe rightly think they can commit a crime and walk away scot-free.

The writer can be reached at purba@thejakartapost.com