Stop pretending that we are safe

Stop pretending that we are safe

Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta,
korpur@yahoo.com

Very few people believe that Indonesia can effectively act to
fight terrorism here, because many of the leaders here act like
parents trying to hide the fact that their children are chronic
drug addicts despite what their friends and neighbors know.

When police arrest their children then they would still be
busy making denials, saying the arrest was triggered by people
jealous of their happy family. They do not care that they do not
just endanger themselves but also other people.

In the case of West Java Deputy Governor Soedarma T.M. and his
wife, they questioned the political motives behind last month's
arrest of their sons for illegal drug use and trafficking. The
doting parents could not deal with the essence of the potential
problem at hand.

Similarly, many of our leaders are busy looking for an
international conspiracy behind the Bali bombings. Hundreds of
innocent people were killed and injured in Bali, but they are
still using childish nationalistic jargon to attempt to hide
Indonesia's severe situation.

After the tragedy, Vice President Hamzah Haz was quick to
blame Cabinet members like Coordinating Minister for Political
and Security Affairs Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the
country's poor intelligence. President Megawati Soekarnoputri
issued a statement but her visit to the site and the victims in
bright clothing somewhat clouded the seriousness of our leaders
as the country was host to another world threat.

Regardless of the truth in any agenda to the disadvantage to
the country, who will believe us when our long list of failure in
facing terrorism is so naked before the international community?

Who still wants to listen to Indonesia's argument that it does
not need any assistance in eradicating terrorism or its roots
here? The doubt against Indonesia among its neighbors in this
regard was even reflected by the region's potential young leaders
in a speech contest here this week.

Asked about how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) should respond to the bomb blast in Bali, Sarah Lynne
Daway, an economics student from the University of the
Philippines, said the regional body should have its own army,
raising eyebrows among attending diplomats.

"ASEAN must have an army pool. The ASEAN soldiers will work to
combat terrorist attacks," Daway told the panel of judges during
the ASEAN Young Speakers forum on Tuesday.

Sarah's reply reflects young people's disbelief that Indonesia
or other ASEAN members will be able to resolve the terrorism
threat if they act alone. The other 19 speakers from 10 ASEAN
members seemed to support Daway's stance.

"If ASEAN were to continue as a credible regional actor, it
has to show its ability to promptly and effectively respond to
imperatives in its domestic and external environment," she noted.

Dayu Nirma Amurwati, an economics student from the University
of Indonesia, warned that the war against terrorism could spark
resentment even among moderate Muslims in the region.

"We have seen Islamic scholars or ordinary Muslims branded as
either 'radicals' or 'extremists' and detained due to the
suspicion they are collaborators in global terrorism," Dayu said.

ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino Jr., in his opening
speech, condemned the Bali bloodbath and expressed his sadness
that the reputation of Bali had been badly tarnished by the
terrorist attacks.

"Bali, is not just the jewel of Indonesia, but the jewel of
the region," said Severino.

Bali is a peaceful island. Only when Megawati failed to be
appointed president after elections in October 1999, people in
Bali ran amok. When Megawati eventually won a consolation prize
as vice president, Bali quickly returned to peace.

Most Muslims here are peaceful and tolerant and are willing to
work with their non-Muslim compatriots. However their reputation
can be ruined by very small groups who use Islamic jargon for
their narrow-minded goals.

It might be better for all if such groups establish their own
political parties and contest the 2004 general elections. We will
know how strong their support from Muslim voters will be.

Indonesia can become a pariah in the world community if the
Bali blasts are added to the long list of unresolved, barbaric
terrorist acts here. Indonesia is a great nation, but it cannot
continue pretending that it is not a dying nation. It needs
international help. Many of its people may be of great character,
but the leaders are too selfish in enriching themselves and in
mounting their power.

Let us honestly talk about the nation's problems. Find the
disease and medication. Stop immature behavior, because the world
knows our problems. The world will not laugh if we are ready to
see the facts and take the necessary medication. We need outside
help particularly because any major "disease" here also threatens
the existence of other nations.

"No single nation can solve the terrorism alone," the Filipino
student said. It is also a reminder for the nation.