The future of our nation is at stake: Syafii

The future of our nation is at stake: Syafii

The devastating Bali bomb blasts have left deep wounds on
mankind. Syafii Maarif, chairman of Muhammadiyah, the country's
second largest Muslim organization, spoke to The Jakarta Post's
Soeryo Winoto about developments in the ongoing investigations
and how it has affected local Muslim organizations.

Question: Some say the Bali tragedy proves that terrorists are
among us in Indonesia. What do you think?

Answer: Yes, that's right. Now the question is who's behind
all this. If our investigators fail to uncover the perpetrators
behind this barbaric act, the nation will be more imperiled. The
Bali tragedy is a very very serious incident that places us in a
critical situation. The future of our nation is at stake.

The world is now pointing its finger at us and unfortunately
we look helpless. However, we must not become desperate. We
should not lose our common sense. A big and strong country like
America has also been devastated by terror attacks.

The nation must be firm. Those found to be involved in the
bombings must be punished.

How should we respond to international pressure over the Bali
disaster?

I was informed about one month ago that something big would
rock the country. I was informed that our intelligence had also
been told about that. But why have our intelligence and security
system been so slow? I am tired and enraged. But what can I do? I
extend my deepest condolence to the victims' relatives.

We must find the culprits and bring them to court, whoever
they are, whether Muslims or Christians. Just let the public know
the reality, don't cover up anything.

Law enforcement is the answer to international pressure. But
investigators must be careful, because arresting the wrong
suspects would worsen the situation and create new problems. And
foreign intelligence teams helping us should be under the
auspices of Indonesian intelligence.

Officials and public figures have warned that linking the
incident to religious movements is irrelevant and dangerous.
However, many people may have been conditioned to relate violent
acts here with certain groups which have in particular waged the
banner of Islam. Your comment?

People must not spread more speculation. We can speak only
after we get adequate (legal) evidence.

Speculation will lead to distrust (toward the government) and
stronger suspicion in society. This is all dangerous and will
remain an enigma.

Investigators have been working day and night to find out who
is (are) behind these barbaric actions. This inhuman act must
have been planned and conducted by inhuman people.

Regarding the groups in Indonesia that have asserted their
influence, sometimes with violence, in the name of Islam, aren't
they creating a stigma for themselves by doing so? What should be
the response of Muslim groups that are known to be moderate, like
Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)?

That's right. They have a narrow understanding of their
religion. We've held dialogs with them and told them that their
militaristic actions are bad publicity for themselves. I said
that they were destroying themselves, and I expressed my
disagreement with any form of violence.

But it is the police who must deal with them. It is the police
who must ban their operations. We cannot do anything to stop them
or to have them stopped, or they will fight us.

Above all they are just a reflection of our bleak and ravaged
society. There are domestic problems which encourage the
emergence of such groups.

The U.S., Malaysia and Singapore had previously warned our
government to be more alert to the suspected international
terrorist group, Jemaah Islamiyah. Your comment?

Is the organization really capable of detonating such huge
bombs? The investigators must soon uncover (the mystery) and make
public the result of their probe. People must refrain from
speculating.

Investigations seem to be leading toward Islamic organization
Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia, led by cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir,
also leader of the Indonesian Mujahiddin Council. What do you
know about this?

Developing the investigation and focusing on a certain point
is fine, but evidence is more important. Just get the evidence
first, then we can speak out about everything.

However, I wonder if they (Jemaah Islamiyah) are capable of
making, assembling and detonating a bomb of that capacity. The
radius affected by the blast reached hundreds of meters. Is the
group strong enough to do that? Is Ba'asyir (alone) that
powerful? Isn't there any cooperation with outsiders? Then who?
This must be thoroughly investigated.

If there is involvement of an Islamic group or people in the
fatal tragedy, we must fight them (the group and the people).
They have no right to exist and live in this country. The tragedy
is the peak of betrayal which humiliates us.

The destruction has thrown the future of our nation into
darkness.

On Tuesday I met with several figures, including Sayidiman
(Suryohadiprojo, former governor of the National Resilience
Institute), Salim Said (military observer) and Siswono
Yudhohusodo (former cabinet minister) to discuss the latest
situation. We concluded that we have yet to find the best
solution (for all our problems).

Our national leadership is very weak and lacks a sense of
crisis. But once again, we must not lose our common sense in
healing our nation. Let's join hands and do whatever we can do
for the sake of the nation.