The Jakarta Post, April 03, 2007
Don't fall into the terror trap
Lim Mei Ming, Jakarta
The threat of extremist terror continuously shadows people as they go about the task
of trying to improve their lives. While there have been no bombings since the attack at
Yos Sudarso harbor in Ambon, we have lost our sense of peace and security. Now we
are alert, and even anxious and suspicious about anything unusual around us.
This endangers our mental health. The central government should be responsible for
nurturing the people's mental capacity to build this country. So, the government
should act to defeat the terrorist movements.
As we have learned, the real terrorists direct these horrific missions from behind the
scenes. They may be teachers of extreme religious views, they may embrace false
dogma, or they may be merely ambitious for power and money.
We should remember that they are the minority. This should be confirmed by the
government to calm those who may be excessively anxious.
Terrorists work based on perception and supposition. They incite. Their goal is not
explosions, fires or deaths. They want something bigger and more valuable: national
impact. What they do depends on what we and our government do. They prey on the
situation. That's why bomb threats have been phoned in against several places in
Jakarta even though there were no bombs.
The terrorist war is a psychological war. I am afraid we may be facing terrorists who
want to destroy the economy and society of this country of Pancasila, which
promotes tolerance and mutual respect.
Neither Islam nor Christianity endorse dehumanizing acts. Where beliefs are involved
in these actions, they are wrong-minded beliefs.
Indonesia must grasp some higher thinking so that we won't be continuously shaken
by ideological disputes that take away from the development we should be
accomplishing.
Since the economic crisis in 1997, we have been distracted from real development by
trivial disputes in the name of religion, tolerance and ideology. Holding firmly to
Pancasila state ideology will strengthen our minds and souls to stay cool under
pressure.
We must search the pattern of the hidden enemies directing attacks in places such
as Poso or Ambon and anticipate what they might do next. If we could have identified
the Amrozi group earlier, the Bali bombs might not have taken so many lives or even
taken place.
Prevention is much more efficient than cure. We must address the roots of horizontal
conflict through social and economic development, eradicating poverty and supporting
a decent standard of living.
The core competency to address these problems lies with the government.
The central government reaches every corner of the archipelago. Jakarta directs or
responds to the actions of the police, army and judicial bodies. It must show
neutrality and objectivity to lead the nation against terrorism.
Terrorists will try to incite us as long as those directing them know there is a chance
we will take the bait. They will search for the chinks in our armor.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration has taken the bait. The execution last
year of three Christians accused of killing Muslims in religious unrest fed the fires of
crisis in Poso. Soon after the execution, the city was torn by bombing, fires, and
murders.
It's easy to declare a peace accord, as happened in Poso in 2001. Face-to-face
among religious groups or political parties, Indonesians will be always friendly and
smile. Asking "Do you want peace?" is a rhetorical question.
It will take a long time to identify the terror centers. While the threads of truth about
Bali and several other bombings have been successfully knitted into a story, the truth
about Poso is still in question.
Developing togetherness among our cliques in our daily lives is one way to defend
against latent terrorists. We must also strengthen our military and defense
capabilities in balance with morality and responsibility among our officials.
Let us put priority on decreasing social gaps and poverty. Let the terrorists see that
Indonesia can't be provoked, and that we are committed to developing together,
mingling our ethnicities, religions and beliefs.
The writer is a freelance journalist. She can be reached at mariamaei@yahoo.com
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