RI needs to send clear signals on terrorism

RI needs to send clear signals on terrorism

Jusuf Wanandi, Member, Board of Trustees, Centre for Strategic and
International Studies, Jakarta

Great anxiety and disbelief were expressed by the
international community when Indonesia's national agenda on
global terrorism was "hijacked" by a small group of Muslims.
Immediately following Sept. 11, President Megawati Soekarnoputri
made a clear and principled statement condemning the act.

She was determined not to cancel her official visit to the
U.S. and became the first head of state to meet with President
George W. Bush after the attacks. During the visit she reiterated
her abhorrence against the barbaric action. In a joint
communique, she asked Bush to give due attention to the feelings
of Muslims and to make use of the United Nations in the fight
against global terrorism.

However, Indonesia's policy soon appeared to shift towards
anti-Americanism, when the government did not react firmly
against the calls by a small radical group to expel Americans as
well as the breaking off of diplomatic relations with the U.S.

The daily demonstrations which lasted some three weeks in
front of the American Embassy in Jakarta gave the impression that
the government allowed the extremist groups to dictate
Indonesia's policies on the fight against global terrorism. The
media, especially the international media, exaggerated the
situation, and the public statements by then U.S. Ambassador
Robert S. Gelbard did not help the situation because they were
considered arrogant.

Informed Indonesians and the international public opinion
alike wondered about the silence on the part of mainstream
Muslims. Perhaps their views were largely ignored by the media.
Also, the government did not appear to consult with them. It was
only at the end of October that mainstream Muslim leaders, both
from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, appeared to become more
assertive in expressing their views on the issue.. More balanced
reactions and policies emerged since then although the damage had
been done.

The views of mainstream Muslims are that terrorism, as
propagated by Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, cannot be condoned by
Muslims. The calls for "sweeping" against Americans and the
campaign for breaking relations with the U.S. are against
Indonesia's national interest. Muslim solidarity is to be
expressed in the form of humanitarian aid to the people of
Afghanistan. Jihad, by sending fighters to Afghanistan, is a
misguided act and efforts and resources should be directed to
resolving Indonesia's own problems, namely poverty.

They also informed the public about the different nature of
Taliban's school of Islam that was unfamiliar to the public here.
However, they made it very clear that they could not accept the
bombings of Afghanistan because of the impact on innocent people
and because the rationale for doing so was not impeccable.

It was only after the strong reactions by mainstream Muslim
leaders that the government began to clamp down on the actions by
those small groups that disturbed public order. The government
stated its readiness to participate in peacekeeping in
Afghanistan as requested by the UN. However, these new signals
have been rather late to reverse Indonesia's damaged image.

The lessons for the government are clear. It needs to be more
hands-on and be pro-active on the issue of terrorism. It also
needs to take greater initiatives in the regional context, in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations or the wider East Asia.

This issue is urgent in ASEAN, given that this region has been
known to become host to local, regional and international
terrorist networks. Regional cooperation amongst the police, the
intelligence, and the Army chiefs of staff must be strengthened.
This is the real meaning of our contribution to the international
coalition.

After all, each government has first to look after its own
threat of terrorism through public education and information
about the threat of local, regional and global terrorism to the
national interest, by freezing bank accounts of terrorist groups
such as al-Qaeda, to close down terrorist training centers, and
to give political support to the international coalition against
global terrorism.

Another important lesson following these last few month is the
need for mainstream Muslim leaders to take the lead in guiding
the Muslim communities in dealing with the issue of terrorism.
They also have a critical role in showing that Islam in Indonesia
is a religion of peace, cooperation, openness and humanity.

There is a strong belief in many quarters within and outside
of the country that a modern, open, democratic and economically
viable Indonesia can become a model for other Muslim countries.
Indeed, Indonesia can become a model where Islam has self-
confidence and is on par with the West and other developed
nations.