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.