'Mega's UN speech mere fluff without enforcement, action'
'Mega's UN speech mere fluff without enforcement, action'
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's speech before the United
Nations General Assembly could help Indonesia gain greater
international support in its war against terrorism, experts say.
"I think the speech, especially on the need for multilateral
cooperation against terrorism, will be relevant as Indonesia has
been a victim of terrorism," said Smith Alhadar, deputy chairman
of the Indonesian Society for Middle East Studies (ISMES) here on
Monday.
He added that the speech would demonstrate Indonesia's
seriousness in dealing with terrorism.
Analyst Riza Sihbudi concurred with Alhadar, saying that the
President's speech would emphasize Indonesia's participation in
the war on terror.
"This will certainly show Indonesia's support for the war on
terrorism," said Riza of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI).
Earlier, former minister of foreign affairs Ali Alatas said
that it was necessary for Indonesia to speak out on terrorism as
a victim of the crime.
"What Indonesia has to say on terrorism will be taken into
account as we are also a victim of the crime both in Bali and
Jakarta," Alatas said.
"We have proven that the we are also able to unravel terrorist
cases and pursue legal proceedings to punish the perpetrators,"
he added.
Megawati is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly
meeting on Tuesday, in which she will explain the country's
efforts so far in fighting terrorism
Indonesia has rounded up over 40 suspected members of Jamaah
Islamiyah (JI) for their alleged roles in both the Bali bombings
in October 2002 and the JW Marriott Hotel attack in Jakarta on
Aug. 5, 2003.
Two of the key defendants in the Bali attacks, in which over
202 people were killed and 300 more injured, have been sentenced
to death.
Cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, whom the United States and its
allies believe to be the spiritual leader of JI with links to
Osama bin Laden's international terrorist network al-Qaeda, was
also brought to court for treason. His four-year jail sentence,
however, was much lighter than most of the international
community had hoped for.
Al-Qaeda was blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World
Trade Center (WTC) in New York and the Pentagon in
Washington, .D.C in 2001.
"But, I think the death sentences for Amrozi and Imam Samudra
will prove Indonesia's seriousness in fighting against
terrorism," Alhadar said.
He said the speech by an Indonesian President would be taken
into account by the international community because Indonesia is
the world's most populous Muslim country and is a victim of
terrorism.
He added that the speech would be relevant to remind the
international community of the terrorism threat.
Meanwhile, Riza doubted that the speech by Megawati would get
the attention it deserves because of other issues such as Iraq
and Israel.