'Too bad victims were Indonesians'

The police are searching for the perpetrators of last week's bombing at the Australian Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, which killed at least nine people and injured more than 180 others. The police have said many of the suspects in this bombing also are suspected of involvement in the Bali bombings in 2002 and the Marriott Hotel attack in 2003. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their opinion on the issue.

Santi Agustin, 32, is a housewife and part-time flight attendant. She lives in Bintaro, Tangerang, with her husband and two children:

The bombing has terrified me. Because I will be scheduled to fly in the next few months, I'm scared that the terrorists might try something like the WTC tragedy in New York. But I still believe that security at airports is tighter now.

The most important thing right now is that the police must arrest the perpetrators. The police must also not be careless in guarding public places.

After last year's Marriott bombing, security at public places such as malls and hospitals was beefed up, but it started to loosen in the last few months. That's why we had another attack. I don't think the terrorists are stupid.

It is too bad that most of the victims were innocent Indonesians who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yusak, 46, is a taxi driver. He lives with his family in Duren Tiga, South Jakarta:

I wonder about our intelligence services and their ability to prevent bombings, given that there has been at least one bombing every year for the last four years. Haven't they learned anything?

Although people were still out at public places after the bombings, their numbers were drastically down.

The first day after the Sept. 9 bombing, I only earned Rp 40,000 (US$4.35) from three passengers. I usually take home Rp 80,000 after paying the taxi rental fee.

That should tell the security officers one thing: We are living in fear. And that they have failed to do their job.

--The Jakarta Post