Nation unites in condemning bombing

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Condemnation poured in from around the country on Sunday against the worst bombing in Indonesia's history, which killed nearly 200 people on the resort island of Bali. Many of those denouncing Saturday's bombing also said the "savage attack" posed the biggest challenge the administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri has faced.

The country's two largest Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, strongly condemned the "uncivilized" attack and expressed condolences to all of the victims, most of whom were foreigners.

"I strongly condemn the attackers and ask the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) to work together to capture them immediately and break up their network," NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said.

NU deputy chairman Solahuddin Wahid said that with the devastating tragedy, Indonesia could no longer reject offers from other countries to assist officials here in investigating terrorist activities.

Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif called for Megawati's Cabinet to be dissolved for its failure to prevent the tragedy and a series of similar incidents that have rocked the country.

"The incident proves the failure of the national leadership. The government is not serious in running the country .... The Cabinet should be disbanded and replaced," Syafii told The Jakarta Post.

He said similar incidents had taken place on a smaller scale around the country, but the government failed to deal with them seriously or to take action to prevent future attacks.

Yet Syafii refrained from suggesting that President Megawati should resign, which he said could undermine national stability.

"I don't think Megawati needs to be replaced," he said.

The House of Representatives and political parties also joined in the condemnation, and demanded that the authorities apprehend and prosecute the bombers.

Also denouncing the bombing was popular Muslim preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar. In a sermon at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta on Sunday, Gymnastiar said the bombers were uncivilized, had lost their minds and had no religious faith.

The tragedy will further sideline Indonesian Muslims and others across the globe, he said.

Observers have begun to speculate about who was behind the tragedy.

Some said the bombers were "highly trained" people likely linked to Western forces, and others believed the bombing could have been the work of fundamentalists opposed to the U.S. or the Indonesian government.

The attack follows persistent reports that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network was trying to establish a foothold in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

President Megawati indirectly blamed terrorists for the attack, but offered no clues as to who authorities believed might be to blame.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid said he believed the "terror attack" was perpetrated by those opposed to Megawati's government hoping to destabilize the country.

"If they oppose the current government they should not use such violence that could destroy the nation. I don't agree with that way," he said.

Political analyst M. Budyatna from the University of Indonesia, legislator Yasril Ananta Baharuddin of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Indonesian Mujahiddin Council (MMI) chairman Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, accused by the U.S. and Singapore of belonging to a regional terrorist network, from the University of Indonesia speculated that the bombing was engineered by a foreign party aimed at targeting Muslims and breaking up Indonesia.

However, Syafii, Muzadi and Solahuddin urged people not to accuse any domestic or foreign groups of masterminding the attack without first providing clear, hard evidence.

"We can blame CIA agents, Muslim extremists or whatever other group for the incident if there is authentic evidence," Syafii said.

"If authentic evidence proves that extremists here were involved in the human tragedy, I agree that we should fight them according to the law. It is certain that the attackers were highly trained people," he said.

Preliminary list of people killed in Bali bomb blasts: 1. Mugianto (M), Indonesia; 2. Kadek Beri Prima (M), Indonesia; 3. Anna Sesilia Aviles (F), Equador; 4. Christhoper Bradford (M), Singapore; 5. DJ Sari Club (M), Indonesia; 6. Josua K. Daegan (M), Australia; 7. Pascal M. Dolf (M), -; 8. Faturraman (M), Indonesia; 9. S. Foley (M), -; 10. March Benny, Gajardo (M), UK; 11. Nash Gary (M), Australia; 12. Maria Johansson (F), Sweden; 13. Chris J. Kays (M), Singapore; 14. Bjorn J. Abon Magnusson (M), Sweden; 15. Aris Muranbar (M), -; 16. Christian Redman (M), Singapore; 17. Julie Stephen S. (F), Australia; 18. Stafford (M), UK; 19. Achmad Suharto (M), Indonesia; 20. Nassima Cladia Tele (F). Germany; 21. Jean Underwood (F), France; 22. Robin G. Webster (M), -; 23. Joshua Illifee (M), Australia; 24. Clint Thompson (M), Australia; 25. Adam Howard (M), Australia; 26. Agus Suhaeri (M), Indonesia; 27. David Majeridies (M), Australia; 28. Sukerma Kadek (M), Indonesia; 29. Berry (M), Holland.