Politics of terror

The way things have been going these past three months, 2000 could well end up as the year of living dangerously for our politicians. One member of the House of Representatives was murdered while another survived a different attack. The House's building was the target of two shootings which, while causing no physical injury, were clearly aimed at intimidating politicians.

Being an elected member of the House nowadays carries a great risk. Gone are the days when being a politician was regarded as a cozy job which promised plenty of material remunerations as long as one cooperated with the powers that be. Being a politician in today's era of democracy means speaking out on behalf of the electorate against the injustices that have been occurring and still occur today. Politicians are now being asked to prove they are worthy of representing the people or else face being voted out of office in the next election, if not before.

But being vocal could also mean taking on the powers that be, not only the popularly elected President Abdurrahman Wahid and his government, but also the politically and economically powerful, including the military, the police, the business conglomerates and the big political parties. Politicians are no longer measured in terms of their support for, or their proximity to the rulers, but for their courage to fight for the people they represent. That also means taking on all the various risks that come with the job. Unfortunately, in today's Indonesia, where the politics of terror still reign, it could mean one's life, or being victim to life-threatening situations.

Police have not been able to uncover any of the criminal cases that have affected the activities of our elected politicians. Yet, the pattern is there: a campaign of terror has been underway to stop them from conducting their work. It has claimed one life: Nashiruddin Daud, a legislator of the United Development Party (PPP), and a vocal critic of the military's past abuses in his constituency of Aceh province. And the campaign nearly killed National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Matori Abdul Djalil, who is also deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and one of President Abdurrahman's close confidants. There were also the unexplained shootings at the House's building, and some observers have included Saturday's theft at the residence of House Speaker and Golkar party chairman Akbar Tandjung.

This chain of events affecting the work of our politicians has given rise to speculation about the real forces behind these nefarious acts of violence. Some political observers have pointed to the Indonesian Military, not as an institution but to certain elements within this institution, if only because they have the ability to mount such a campaign without leaving any traces behind.

We leave it to the police to investigate these cases although we wished they could be more effective, not only in uncovering them but also in catching the perpetrators. Their inability so far shows that their intelligence capability is found wanting.

In the meantime, there is indeed a strong case to give greater protection to politicians. The proposal that legislators should be allowed to carry firearms is a sad reflection of the growing concern for their safety. And even if it might be taking things to their extreme, it has clearly illustrated how important it is for the police to apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes.

Irrespective of the ongoing police investigation, politicians should not be deterred by these incidents. Turning them into meek ineffectual leaders is precisely the intention of those responsible for these brutal acts of intimidation and violence. If anything, the political leaders of Indonesia should be even more vocal and aggressive in fighting for the people, for they have now had a taste of what many people in this country have felt for much of the past three decades: the feeling of being constantly harassed and intimidated.