Let's be more confident

Let's be more confident

With its new antiterrorism regulations, Indonesia has vowed to
be tougher against all kinds of terror. President Megawati
Soekarnoputri confirmed Indonesia's stance against terrorism at
the APEC meeting in Mexico last week.

At home Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is in charge of coordinating the
effort to deal with terror-related affairs. Now that several
people have been detained in terror-related cases, there is no
reason for other countries to question Indonesia's determination
in crushing terrorism. But it is obvious that Indonesia's
willingness to deal with terrorism relates to the policies of
other countries, which have frequently urged Indonesia to be more
aggressive on terrorism.

The government's moves were done in hopes of mending the
tourist industry and to encourage investors to return -- in
short, more revenue.

It will take time for these measures to bear fruit. Other
countries' pressures against Indonesia, such as their ban on
their citizens from visiting Indonesia, plays a significant role
in the process of our economic recovery.

The recent calamity and foreign pressures against the country
should have made all layers of society united. With more
confidence, we must be able to stand up to rebuild the country.
We should not beg other countries to withdraw their travel bans
(for their citizens). Let's release ourselves from our dependence
on other countries and boost domestic solidarity.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta