In Reply to: Hopefully this will change posted by ABC on Wednesday, 5. October 2005 at 02:36 Bali Time:
I agree that something more must be done to try and prosecute / persecute those condoning / encouraging / supporting this kind of terrorism in Indonesia.
I live in the UK - obviously we suffered on 7/7. Since which time the government has been trying to clamp down on terrorism supporters, as well as the actual terrorists. They have started an active program of deporting various islamic clerics who are deemed a "threat to national security" because of their provocative stance. I believe this is based on a unilateral decision by the Home Secretary (=Internal Affairs Minister) rather than something a jury decide on. And they are talking of a new offence of "glorifying terrorism". How you prove this in court I don't know (and it's causing some active debate over here). It's quite possible that you can only enforce a law like this by impingeing on traditional civil liberties (not least: free speech).
It's a really difficult area. Personally, although I'm a through and through left-winger, I think there are good arguments for accepting that civil liberties might have to suffer to counter the threat of these maniacs.
But, relating this back to Bali, is anything similar being done in Indonesia? I know Indonesia is a majority muslim state (not in Bali of course, but overall). But surely there's nothing to stop them hitting obvious terrorist supporters? I read on this forum that JI is still a legal organisation, for instance? I do think that unless something is done to counter the "islamic martyr" aspect to all this there will always be willing volunteers.
The other important issue underpinning this, of course, is to try and remove the (understandable?) sense of injustice many muslims feel towards the West (including Oz if you see what I mean). Although I live in the UK and have always voted Labour I was appalled by Blair's decision to go into Iraq, and I'm convinced that this is one reason London was bombed (not that it justifies it). And then there's always the Palestine question as well of course, and other perceived injustices...
Sorry...I know this is a Bali forum, but there are issues here which can't be solved in Bali alone. I don't know even know whether they'll ever be solved. I'd like to think so, because I love Bali and the Balinese people, and unless there's some progress on these points I can see terrorism continuing to be a lingering threat.