The war on terror

The national campaign against terror has entered a new critical phase this week with the publication of the photographs of six suspects in connection with last month's deadly bomb attacks in Bali. Although only one man has been arrested to date, police at least have the names and faces of six other men, plus some details of their backgrounds and their past activities, whom they believe were the perpetrators of the Oct. 12 bombing. This is a whole lot more than they had one week ago.

True, the police's version about how the Bali bombing was planned and executed has been based on the account of one self- confessed suspect, Amrozi. He may be telling lies, he may only know half of the truth, but his story, for now, is the only solid lead that the police could use in pursuing the investigation.

The nationwide manhunt launched this week following the publications of the names of six suspects, however, have many implications that require the government to secure even greater public support for its campaign to stand a chance of success.

The police announcement of the suspects' names on Sunday somehow failed to convey the message that they want the public to participate in their endeavor. During the media conference, Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika, who is heading the multinational investigating team, made no specific appeal to the public to help the police in tracking down the terrorist suspects.

He did invoke a clause in the anti-terrorism law which states that anyone who harbors terrorist fugitives is liable to between three and 15 years' imprisonment. While police were not expected to offer rewards, they could have reminded the public about existing offers, including from the Australian government and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia).

Police could also have warned the public that they should exercise caution because we are dealing with terrorists who, if they were involved in the Bali bombing, are capable of anything. Last, but not least, the police could have offered legal assurances and protection to anyone who came forward with any information about the wanted suspects.

The fact that the police were certain that these suspects are still in the country and have not fled abroad, showed that they are comfortable and confident that they would not be found. This is all the more reason why police should reach out for the fullest public support in solving the Oct. 12 bombing case. After all, that was supposed to be the objective of the whole exercise of publishing the names and faces of the suspects.

Widespread public support is also crucial because it has now become clear that some of the suspects have been associated, one way or another, with one or two pesantren, or Islamic boarding schools. Vice President Hamzah Haz on Monday cautioned the police about excesses shown during the raid at one pesantren last week. Muhammadiyah, one of the largest Muslim organizations, has also complained about the police's excessive behavior when they removed Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, an Islamic cleric wanted for earlier bomb attacks, from his hospital bed in Surakarta, Central Java. The hospital, owned and managed by Muhammadiyah, was damaged.

The last thing the police want to do at this critical phase of the war on terror is to earn the wrath of the Muslim community. They must solicit the support of Muslims, not alienate them.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's appeal on Monday for mainstream Muslim organizations to join in the war on terror could not have been better timed. Irrespective of her style of delivery -- as usual she was speaking through proxies rather than speaking directly -- the President appealed to Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's two largest Muslim organizations, to promote the image of Islam as a peace-loving and cooperative religion. She also asked that these two groups speak out more often about the real values of Islam.

These two groups, which preach religious tolerance and moderation, have represented the voice of reason ever since the global war on terror began last year. They represent the mainstream Muslims in Indonesia, while the more radical interpretations of Islam find little supports among people, who, unfortunately, tend to be very vocal. Given this, the government must continue to nurture the support of Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah if it wants to succeed in its campaign.

Putting aside the limitations in the way the government and the police are communicating their messages in the campaign on terror, the widest public participation is essential for our own sake. With or without being solicited by the government, this is a campaign that every one who is concerned about the future of this nation must support.

We cannot expect to return to our normal lives, or to live in peace again, for as long as we know that the perpetrators of the Oct. 12 bomb attacks are still roaming free. This campaign may not have the leadership that it deserves, but it is no excuse for the rest of us not to join in the endeavor.