The Poso tragedy and its significance for security

Aleksius Jemadu, Bandung

Since the first Bali bombing in 2002, terrorist groups have used two different strategies in attempting to accomplish their political goals in Indonesia. The first strategy is to target Western people and property with massive bomb attacks. The second strategy is to make inroads into the communal conflicts in Maluku and Poso (Central Sulawesi) where they try to prolong the conflict in order to make their presence relevant. The ultimate goal of the second strategy is to destabilize Indonesia by destroying the very foundation of its national unity.

It is within this context that we should understand why the terrorist groups were determined to go to the extent of mercilessly beheading three innocent young girls in Poso on Oct. 29, 2005. As Indonesian security authorities increase their vigilance to protect public places, terrorist groups are changing their tactics to killing the most vulnerable and unprotected members of society: school girls. Thanks to the maturity of the local religious communities such blatant provocation has not led to an new outbreak of communal violence.

Let us examine first the local context of this terrorist attack. To some extent the killings of the three girls in Poso reflects a desperate situation on the part of the provocateurs. A series of bomb attacks had already taken place beforehand to try and re-ignite the conflict. The Tentena bombing in May 2005 was the biggest attempt, and dozens of people were killed.

The encouraging news is that both Muslims and Christians in Poso have strengthened their solidarity to create peace and harmony in their community. The relatively smooth conduct of local elections recently is proof that local people are capable of carrying out democratic mechanisms to create legitimate government.

On top of that, to the chagrin of the terrorist and radical groups, the candidates who won the elections were from joint Christian and Islamic political groups. Thus, the role of the regent of Poso, who is a Christian, and his deputy, who is a Muslim, will be crucial in sustaining the peace between the religious communities.

There is, however, no cause for complacency. There are real indications that the terrorist groups have a long-term scenario to increase their activities in the eastern regions of Indonesia. The interception of a huge quantity of explosives by police in Nunukan, East Kalimantan and Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, recently, is a clear evidence of the imminence of the security threat.

In addition to the above explanation, some political analysts offer an alternative approach that emphasizes the struggle among different political groups, including some military elements, over the exploitation of mining and plantation resources in certain eastern provinces. According to this explanation, the outbreak of communal violence will open the way for these political and economic groups whose objective is to control the exploitation of natural resources.

Whichever explanation is valid, the heart of the matter is that there are indeed certain political groups who are keen to take advantage of the outbreak of religious violence in the eastern parts of Indonesia. If this is the case, then Indonesian security authorities have to confront different sources of threat simultaneously.

Therefore, there must be the strongest commitment from the top level of government to remain vigilant against the increasing activities of terrorist groups so that there will be no chance for them to materialize their dangerous agenda.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should try to convince the terrorist groups that Indonesia is too great to be dictated to by persons whose ultimate goal is the breakup of this multiethnic nation.

The writer is head of the department of international relations and head of the MA study program in social sciences at Parahyangan University, Bandung. He can be reached at aljemadu@yahoo.co.uk.