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Indonesia Draws Line in the War Against Terrorism
JAKARTA, Oct 5 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Indonesia said it would fight terrorism on all fronts starting with the financial aspects, as well as military, in the new war, sources in Jakarta said Friday.
Indonesia will first vote upon a series of laws related to terrorism in parliament, allowing its intelligence and secret services to have more powers to fight terrorist activities.
The intention is to equip the services with the latest techniques available, to get high-tech training for its police and military secret services and to allow a smoother inflow and outflow of information between world intelligence organizations.
The Indonesian government said during the United Nations meeting on terrorism that it would combat terrorism on its soil and within international boundaries if the U.N. were at the forefront of the new war.
Indonesia also said at the conference, at the end of September, that since it was a victim of local terrorism, it had a duty to share evidence and track down terrorists in an enlarged coalition against terror.
As a consequence, the Indonesian government is treading upon a sensitive issue at home where conservative religious groups have openly declared war against the U.S.
A large majority of Indonesians disagree with the U.S.'s expected attacks on Afghanistan, or upon any other Muslim nation.
However, Indonesia's economic revival plans are intricately linked to international financing backed by the United States, the super power that has taken the lead in the war against terrorists.
The government has guaranteed that it would adopt the U.N. resolution condemning terrorism. This includes full investigations on the financial trail of terrorists, as well as their links to local movements.
The Indonesian government said on Friday that it would not tolerate any terrorist activities, warning potential conspirators or operatives of suspected terrorist groups not to venture on its territories.
However, its legislators and highest officials, who include Vice President Hamza Haz and influential Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais, said they have to draw a line in the principle of this war.
To tame the rising anti-American sentiment in the vast archipelago, the government has decided to warn the U.S. not to strike Afghanistan indiscriminately.
It said with full force that the Indonesian Republic would not accept that the war on terrorism leads to a war against any Muslim nation, including Afghanistan, which has gained the sympathy of thousands of Indonesian Muslims ready to fight a jihad [struggle] for the Taliban regime.
The Indonesian government made it clear that any international scale war against terrorism should not create another human tragedy, or should not be directed solely at Muslim nations suspected of harboring terrorists.
In private, Indonesians do not like the idea of a war that draws a line between being with the U.S. or against the U.S., U.S. President George W. Bush's ultimatum. Many officials secretly believe that the U.S. will not win a war where it forces the world to take its side.
In addition, Indonesian authorities say the U.S. should define its targets before building a coalition and embarking it on a sort of "suicide" mission against an enemy that has no creed, color, race or religion.
However, at further levels within the Indonesian legislative system, and this would include President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the immediate concern for Indonesia in this new war is the effect it would have on the already weakening economy of the country.
Megawati issued stern warnings to religious groups for their anti-U.S. terror campaigns. She also supports the idea that Indonesians who leave Indonesia and fight in any other country without governmental consent could lose their citizenship.
In this respect, Indonesia wishes to see the U.N. lead the war on terrorism, where it would feel free to offer all the necessary assistance and not frustrate Muslims at home.
Unofficially, Southeast Asian nations prefer that the U.N. take control of the situation, offering the U.S. a chance to desist from the current state where anti-U.S. hatred is rising in the Muslim world.
The Indonesian government, for example, said it was ready to take actions if the U.S. attacks Afghanistan. Several Muslim figures in the country have called for a straight rupture of diplomatic relations with the U.S. in case of this event.
However, officials of the Indonesian government said diplomatic channels are actively seeking to influence the U.S. not to take drastic actions.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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