[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Palu violence hurts RI's image
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org>
- Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 23:10:45 +0100
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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@xxxxxxxxxxx
.
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