The Jakarta Post, January 06, 2006
Palu violence hurts RI's image
Aleksius Jemadu, Bandung
Each time terrorists kill innocent people in markets, churches, cafes or hotels they
dehumanize their own existence to the level of social outcasts. Whatever justification
they might have in the Palu bombing on Dec. 31, 2005, is beyond the grasp of human
conscience. The taking of other people's lives through merciless killing like this clearly
indicates the spiritual poverty of the perpetrators even when measured by the most
atheistic standards.
The selection of the bombing location tells us that the attack had been planned as
security authorities focused most of their attention on the protection of houses of
worship and other public buildings. On top of that, the terrorists had calculated that
only people from a certain socio-religious group would be present in the market, which
sells pork. The singling out of Christians as a target in a terrorist attack constitutes a
certain political message not only for security authorities but also for the Indonesian
public.
A series of terrorist attacks in Central Sulawesi over the last few years follow an
established pattern in that the victims are mostly from a certain religious group. This
does not necessarily mean that the heart of the matter is an interreligious conflict. In
fact, both Christians and Muslims should avoid such a conclusion as it could help the
terrorists accomplish their objective of creating agitation.
However, the continuous victimization of the Christians should justify some sort of
preferential protection by the security authorities. The terrorists will continue to
provoke the existing religious groups until it reignites new waves of interreligious
conflict. Thus, it is very likely that the same mode of operation will be repeated again
in the near future.
In an effort to defend the police against mounting criticism, the National Police chief
Gen. Sutanto argued that the local police had done their best to protect churches and
other religious buildings during Christmas and new year holidays. However, the public
remains doubtful whether or not the local security officials have answered questions
regarding the social networks and activities of the terrorist groups throughout the
province of Central Sulawesi.
There is no credible information how, for instance, the security authorities have
conducted counter-intelligence measures in order to prevent any attempt to carry out
a bomb attack. Repeated bomb attacks of the same modus operandi should have
sharpened the intuition of the security authorities to monitor and conduct surveillance
of the suspicious activities of the terrorist groups. It would be a great liability on the
part of the security authorities if until now they have no idea about the mapping of the
security situation in Central Sulawesi.
Since the killing of Azahari on Nov. 9, 2005, in Malang, East Java, the Indonesian
government has consolidated its strategies in dealing with terrorist and militant
groups. The government seems to realize that in overcoming the terrorist threat the
police should be supported by the Indonesian Military (TNI) as the latter has extensive
experience in collecting and analyzing intelligence data concerning terrorist activities
in Indonesia.
At the societal level the Ministry of Religious Affairs plans to send a team with the
main task of countering the spread of militant ideas which have inspired some youths
to blow themselves up in order to go to heaven. It is not yet clear to what extent the
government has taken concrete steps toward the realization of such a plan.
On the part of the terrorist groups the Palu bombing provides a clear message that
they are still capable of conducting a deadly attack especially in the conflict areas. It
is high time that local security authorities become more pro-active in conducting their
security measures and facilitate the participation of local religious leaders so that the
terrorist groups can easily be identified.
It was also disclosed in the media that the terrorist groups want to introduce new
tactics by kidnapping high government officials and their family members with the aim
of weakening the government's determination to carry out its security measures.
With the relative progress of democratic consolidation, Indonesia has been regarded
as a model where Islam as the religion of the majority of the people can co-exist with
democracy. The international leaders have greeted this development with great
enthusiasm and expressed their willingness to support Indonesia's new-found identity
through political and economic assistance.
Now that the exploitation of religion for terrorist activities has taken root in Indonesia,
both the government and the people should stand firm to oppose any attempt to
tarnish the positive image that the nation has managed to rebuild after the collapse of
Soeharto's authoritarian regime in 1998.
The writer is Head of the Department of International Relations and Head of the MA
Study Program in Social Sciences at Parahyangan University Bandung. His field of
research focuses on civil and internal conflict. He can be reached at
aljemadu@yahoo.co.uk
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
