The Marriott reopening

The Marriott reopening

Well over a month after the event it is hard to forget the
deadly car bomb attack that devastated JW Marriott Hotel in the
Mega Kuningan business district, Central Jakarta, on Aug. 5 this
year. Twelve people were killed and 147 others injured by the
blast, which was believed to be linked to global terrorism.

Apart from the grief that resulted from the violent death of
so many innocent people, the precious lesson that we can learn is
that an effective security system is essential, wherever and
whenever.

So on Monday the Marriott, which is part of an American hotel
chain, reopened, with much tighter security in place.

The new design of the main approach to the hotel makes it
impossible for guests to park their cars close to the lobby, and
anyone entering the establishment must be searched and go through
a security gate and metal detector. That is also what
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono experienced when he visited the hotel on
Wednesday.

At least 10 security personnel armed with rifles in front of
the Sailendra restaurant are ready to check guests' cars. The
decision to reopen the hotel, despite the serious damage that it
sustained and the lingering fear of its guests and employees,
deserves appreciation. It reflects the management's courage and
determination not to bow to terror.

From the point of view of the investigation the resumption of
business at the Marriott indicates that the police have done
their job so quickly that they need not work at the site any
longer. From the business point of view the hotel's reopening,
directly or indirectly, assures investors that security in the
capital city is improving. The other message from the Marriott
reopening is the reemerging optimism in the tourism industry,
after it was crippled by the devastating blasts in Bali.

But while we feel the deepest sympathy for those affected by
the Marriott bomb, we regret to have to say that the Marriott
attack could not have occurred if all the parties concerned,
especially those in charge of the antiterrorist drive, had been
alert and responsive to the terrorists' moves. The bombs at
Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the House of
Representatives complex, and the discovery of documents believed
to belong to Jamaah Islamiyah saying that the Kuningan business
complex was marked as a possible target for terrorist attack,
could have awakened our antiterrorist agencies to the danger.

Something must obviously be wrong with the communications
system linking those in charge of security and the public.
Apparently, the early information or warning of possible terror
attacks that was received by intelligence agencies was not
effectively conveyed to the public, for reasons as yet unknown.

On the positive side, the Marriott blast has been a valuable
lesson to owners of other high-rise buildings and office blocks,
who tightened their security systems soon after the bombings.

Extra-tight security measures are now applied by several
shopping malls and plazas in Jakarta -- which, incidentally, they
should have brought in long before the Marriott was attacked.
Drivers must now wait longer before proceeding to the parking
ramps of buildings to have their cars searched. Some high-rise
buildings apply even tighter measures by asking guests to leave
their ID cards with the receptionist or security desk -- a system
that, by the way, is considered illogical as terrorists could
enter buildings with false ID cards but armed with explosives.

To be honest, though, some apprehension remains in spite of
all these measures. The Indonesian public tends to be easily
shocked by bomb blasts such as the one at the airport a while
ago, but easily forgets that fear when no more blasts occur for
some time. Obviously there is no need to turn the clock back. We
just want to reiterate the lesson from the Marriott blast that
security measures must be applied to everyone without exception,
especially in public places, at any time, even if we hear of no
more terrorist attacks.

Only in this way will the public be reassured about their
safety. Only when safety is guaranteed can we all go about our
legitimate business in the capital city.