[Nasional-e] War against terror: Lessons for Indonesia

[Ambon]

The Jakarata Post
Sept. 7, 2002

War against terror: Lessons for Indonesia
Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre for Strategic
and International Studies, Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States in which thousands of
innocent lives were lost has led Indonesia and other members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to join the American-led
global war against international terrorism.
The war against terrorism will be a never ending battle as the U.S.
continues to seek stronger commitment from the countries in the region,
especially the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, of which the latter two
are considered to be the operational bases for Jemaah Islamiah, a radical
Islamic group allegedly linked to al-Qaeda attempting to carve out an
Islamic state.
The government of Megawati Soekarnoputri has long denied the presence of
substantial terrorist networks in the archipelago -- but it has taken US$50
million from Washington to assist security forces in the antiterrorist
struggle.
Indonesia has been viewed as something of a laggard in this global war, not
only by the U.S., but also even by its friends in the region, Malaysia and
Singapore. Since Sept. 11 Indonesia has always been on the U.S.
international policy agenda, because it allegedly is a haven for terrorist
groups. Singapore has also accused Indonesia of being a safe ground for
nurturing terrorist activities.
Either independently or within the context of ASEAN Indonesia has now been
integrated into an antiterrorist network. Washington believes that Indonesia
could play a crucial role in ensuring that "militant Islam" does not spread
and thus jeopardize regional peace and security.
But the existence of Indonesia in such networking will not automatically
eliminate the already strong image held by certain members of the
international community that our country is hospitable toward international
terrorists. Counter-terrorism experts have long insisted that Indonesia has
served as both a staging area and refuge for terrorists.
Indonesia's participation in the antiterrorist coalition still has to be
tested as the country continues to face difficulties in arresting or
detaining "radical" Indonesian Muslim leaders accused by foreign countries
as having al-Qaeda connections. The government always feels it needs to
convince foreign envoys of its determination to fight terrorism. But
Indonesia lacks the capability to do so.
One of the effects of Sept. 11 is that Indonesia is considering an
antiterrorist law, among other things. The idea that the law be introduced
to curb terrorist activities has caused strong opposition from certain
sectors, arguing that the law may be used to oppress certain groups in the
country. Given its controversy there are further doubts of when it will
become effective.
Many in the West have attempted to link the issue of terrorism with
democracy and Islam. International campaigns against global terrorism serves
as a kind of wake-up call for Indonesia to start thinking of combining
democracy and Islam. Perhaps, it is through such a course that Indonesia
will gain more sympathy from the West, the U.S. in particular.
Indonesia is now embarking on a fragile experiment of democracy. A
successful management of the process by the present and future government
will make the country the third largest democracy in the world and in the
Muslim world. But if the experiment fails, the country will definitely
become a source of gravity for possible extremist activities, thus
guaranteeing another big blow to Indonesia.
Despite appreciation from the U.S. of Indonesia's perceived seriousness in
fighting terrorism, we will still be closely watched by the international
community as to whether we will fully respect human rights. This is the kind
of issue often linked to the role of the military. If the Indonesian
Military (TNI) is going to prevail over terrorism, they have to do it in a
way that respects human dignity.
The antiterrorist campaign has paved the way to normalizing the two
countries' military ties, cut three years ago because of human rights
abuses. It allows aid to flow again to the military. It is not an
exaggeration to say that the current antiterrorist campaign makes TNI the
victor.
The plan to resume the International Military Education and Training (IMET)
as well as the involvement of Indonesian officers in a counter-terrorism
fellowship program, provided by the U.S., will help the TNI to improve its
capability or to improve its military organization within a democratic
system.
One cannot deny the importance of the military factor in combating
terrorism. The TNI must therefore be extra careful in using its military
assistance so as not to create the impression that they are using the aid
for other purposes other than defending the nation against any possible
external threats.
Critics say that providing the Indonesian Military with new arsenals and
other equipment is ineffective in curbing radical groups, arguing that the
U.S. should not commit violence against such groups, to prevent resistance
growing even stronger.
It is unlikely that U.S. troops will set their boots on Indonesian soil as
they did in the Philippines, but even without this, the actions of so-called
radical groups have already generated fears. Indonesia therefore should not
also ignore the possibility of such groups serving as a kind of proxy of
international militant groups linked to the al-Qaeda network. This is where
Indonesia needs to have reliable intelligence networking to detect the
linkage and the capability to deal with terrorist elements, and this can be
accomplished only with the cooperation of other countries.
The global war on terror will be a long lasting one and the endurance of its
strategy will be tested against the true commitment of the participants in
the war. The war on terror has placed Indonesia on center stage in the
international policy agenda of the U.S.; and the country cannot avoid being
cited as a safe haven for terrorist activities unless it is willing to show
to the region at least that it is not all mere talk about terrorism.
Although foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda has said that the country has done
quite a lot since Sept. 11, the question remains as to how far Indonesia is
willing to go in the war against terror, and whether Indonesia will maintain
its main defense that some preachers merely sound "radical", and that they
are not terrorists.