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.