The war of public opinion

The photo of presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and George W. Bush shaking hands, splashed across most front pages of major newspapers on Monday, solicited two diametric responses from the public. Some saw it as a symbol of increasing cooperation between the two countries in confronting a common enemy: Terrorists. Skeptics, and there are many around today, saw it as a symbol of the extent to which the United States controls or dictates the policies of Indonesia in waging the war on terrorism.

Just over two weeks after the bomb blasts that killed nearly 200 people in Bali, domestic public opinion on the government's handling of the issue of terrorism has once again been polarized into these two contrasting views. These attacks have not only destroyed Bali and its reputation as a safe haven for tourists, but they now look to be devastating for the rest of the country.

Why this polarization, when the nation is supposed to be united to confront a common enemy that seems bent on destroying the country? Part of the problem, if not the chief problem, is lack of leadership on the part of the government, particularly on the part of President Megawati, in waging the war on terrorism.

To her credit, the President did just about everything expected of her in the day following the Oct. 12 bomb attacks in Bali. She called a media conference the day after the bombing, and visited Bali to inspect the site, and met survivors and comforted injured victims. There were question marks about her delivery of the message, and her seemingly lack of sensitivity or lack of remorse, but at the very least, she took the initiative in personally handling the matter.

Megawati subsequently presided over a series of crisis Cabinet meetings to discuss the government's approach to the problem. She was instrumental in making controversial decisions as the establishment of a multinational task force to investigate the bombing; in issuing the new counter-terrorism regulations; in ordering that Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir be put under arrest; and in supporting the UN's listing of Ba'asyir's Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) as an official terrorist organization.

Those were indeed bold decisions that only the President could have made. Could she have done more?

Yes. She could have been more communicative with the people.

Apart from the short media conference on Oct. 13, she has not appeared before the nation to address the problem of terrorism, to tell us what her government hopes to achieve, and how it plans to achieve its goals, if it has any.

Instead, President Megawati has delegated that job, and the entire affairs of countering terrorism to her two aides: security chief minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono. These two men, however, appear to be more concerned with their own reputations, and probably their own political agenda, so much so that their effectiveness in leading the campaign is questionable.

Besides, this is a war that is simply too big to be left in the hands of her lieutenants. The war on terrorism must be led by the President herself, and she must be seen to be leading the nation in this war.

Megawati could learn a thing or two about leadership from President George W. Bush. The bomb attack in Bali was not all that different from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. President Megawati should have treated the attack as a declaration of war on Indonesia. And she should have responded by declaring a war on terrorism, not for the sake of foreign governments and foreign tourists, but for the sake of her own people and her country. That message seems to have been lost.

There is even a growing perception among the public -- as seen from the response to Megawati's meeting with Bush in Mexico over the weekend -- that she was only doing this to appease the United States and other governments on whom Indonesia's economy depends.

Because she does not appear to be personally leading the campaign -- we have not even heard her of any Cabinet official referring to this as a war -- instead, confusion reigns. Yudhoyono, who was delegated to communicate the government's policies to the public, does not appear to be up to the task.

Some people might argue that it was not Megawati's style to be seen to be leading or to be taking the initiative, and that she might even draw unwarranted criticism if she was seen to be pushing too hard in this campaign.

But in this war against terrorism, President Megawati's worst enemy are not the terrorist organizations, but the domestic public opinion, which could turn against her. Without solid domestic support, she may as well forget about the war. And the only way of winning public opinion is by personally leading the war, and by being seen to be leading the war.