No subject

police have identified 10 possible accomplices, the type of explosives bought 
by the suspect and the locations at which the bombing was supposed to have been 
planned. 

The police explanation, however, is not beyond challenge from an already 
skeptical public. Their explanation, based on the confession of only one 
suspect, contains many holes, and at times, has even contradicted earlier 
findings, such as the type of explosives used. 

Time, indeed, is essential here, for the sooner the police solve the case, the 
sooner we can all get back to our normal routine in peace. But credibility is 
much more important than speed. The public is willing to give the police more 
time, as long as they show some progress, and, above all, credibility in their 
work. 
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The Age (Melbourne)
Opinion
Forget the West, Indonesia must act for its own sake
November 12 2002
-- Megawati must tackle terrorism if moderate Islam is to overcome the radical 
version and her nation is to flourish, writes Jusuf Wanandi.

With the Bali bombings, it has become crystal clear that global terrorism is 
present in Indonesia. The country is facing an almost insurmountable task to 
overcome the loss of international confidence. It has been in denial for too 
long. That is why it is imperative for President Megawati Sukarnoputri to get 
her act together and solve the attack in Bali resolutely and quickly. 

To do that she first has to rally the people and their leaders behind her, 
since the fight will be long and complicated. In particular, she needs to get 
the support of moderate Muslims and their leaders, because it must not be seen 
as a fight against Islam, as radical groups have tried to portray it. 

The fight must be seen first and foremost as for the sake of Indonesia, and not 
simply in the interests of the United States or the international community.

Megawati must reach out to the legislature, the political parties and moderate 
Islamic groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah. They are Indonesia's 
two main social organisations for Muslims, with tens of millions of members. 

She must also reach out to public opinion. She has not been doing this, 
although there is a huge amount of goodwill she could tap. In fact, she could 
make the fight against extremism a cause that would resurrect her popularity, 
after the many disappointments with her performance since she became President. 

Indonesia has more Muslims than any other country. The overwhelming majority 
are moderate and tolerant. They want peace so that the economy can grow faster 
to generate more jobs, reduce poverty and raise living standards. They want 
stability so that democracy can take root. 

Megawati should develop rules, instruments and mechanisms to mount an effective 
fight against terrorism. She recently proclaimed two emergency decrees to 
strengthen the legal basis for stopping terrorists before they can act. The 
decrees may be reinforced by legislation in the next session of parliament. 

It is important that the decrees help to cut off financing of terrorist groups 
in Indonesia. But there should be a balance between fighting terrorism and 
concern for democracy and human rights. While the right to freedom from arrest 
without a warrant may be qualified, the practice will not be unrestricted. 

Indonesia should not adopt the internal security laws of Singapore and Malaysia 
that permit suspected extremists to be arrested and held in indefinite 
detention without trial. Regulations to fight terrorism must certainly not 
replicate the anti-subversive decrees of previous regimes. 

Striking such a balance is important. After all, the country only emerged from 
40 years of authoritarian rule with the downfall of president Suharto in 1998. 
Moreover, it is only in a viable democracy that moderate Islam can overcome 
Islamic radicalism. 

Megawati has taken steps to unify the country's intelligence-gathering system 
under A. M. Hendropriyono, the head of the National Intelligence Agency. He has 
been committed to fighting terrorism since the attacks on America in 2001. 

The police will oversee an anti-terrorist unit under the supervision of the 
coordinating minister for political and security affairs. The armed forces are 
supposed to assist the police in their work. It is significant that the police 
and the intelligence agencies have been open to cooperation from equivalent 
services of neighbouring countries and the United States. But will they apply 
government policies resolutely and quickly? Some elements in the police and 
military are known to be corrupt, and have been compromised by some of the 
radical Muslim groups that established relations with them before democratic 
rule was established. 

Megawati must also act to alleviate the impact of the Bali bombing on the 
economy. It will help if the government can find the perpetrators quickly and 
prosecute them. Only if she can show the international community that she is in 
charge can further foreign aid and investment be expected. 

About 40 million Indonesians, or nearly one-fifth of the population, are either 
without a job or working only part time. Reviving the economy is critical for 
stability and security. Renewed growth and hope are also needed to fight 
terrorism effectively. 

But perhaps the most important thing is the ideological struggle against 
radicalism and terrorism in the name of Islam. 

Although Muslims in Indonesia are mainly moderate, they need help and 
assistance in expanding their education systems under Muhammadiyah and 
Nahdlatul Ulama, which have so far been able to withstand the extremist 
influences of Wahhabism from Saudi Arabia. 
-- Jusuf Wanandi is a board member of the Centre for Strategic and 
International Studies, Jakarta. This article previously appeared in the Jakarta 
Post.
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