Sunday, February 17, 2008

The so called practice of terrorism had been known in Indonesia since a long time ago. Our heroes in the past were also labelled as terrorists and extremists by the Dutch, since they provoked terrors against the colonizer, not horrific terrorism but heroic terrorism. After the proclamation of independence, in seeking national system deemed suitable for Republic of Indonesia, radicalism can’t be evaded. First, because of different concepts on state, movements led by following figures/organization emerged: DI/TII (Java), Daud Bereuh (Aceh), and Kahar Muzakkar (Sulawesi). Second, because of political pressure given by New Order. Third, because of intelligent game/”scenario” like in case of Imran’s KOMJI. Fourth, because of influence of global dynamics, like wars in Central East, Iran Revolution, Arqam movement in Malaysia, Afghanistan wars, and America occupation on Afghanistan and Iraq. The figure seems to play the most important role in labelling terrorism in Indonesia, however, is Sidney Jones.

Sidney Jones, the Director of Indonesia International Crisis Group centred in Australia had spent 20 years to document various conflicts in Indonesia in his capacity as an NGO activist and as an American accomplice. Sidney Jones periodical reports become official inputs for American Congress, FBI, and CIA. Many things reported by Sidney Jones surprises Indonesians and even surprise people whose name mentioned in the reports, because he seems to understand things on events of radicalism to their details, including the actor’s underpants, such in the report on The Case of The Ngruki Network in Indonesia.

It is not clear yet whether terrorist actions in Indonesia so far are planned by Indonesians themselves or only “games” masterminded by western intelligences, whether the terrorists are the only terror actors or they are actually victims of global political games. Sidney Jones’ reports obviously show his double standards, but they also obviously create negative image on Indonesia internationally. Indonesian press also refer to Sidney Jones’ thesis since there is indeed no other report can be its equal so far so that subject matter of terrorism in Indonesia only has one main reference, Sidney Jones. Meanwhile, a multinational non-profit organization centred in Belgium, International Crisis Group, led by the Finland President, Martti Ahtisaari, although also tends to be pro-America, but isn’t as courageous as Sidney Jones in concluding things regarding radicalism in Indonesia.

Amrozy and Imam Samudera
Amrozy’s smile when he’s accepting his verdict of death sentence really annoyed the families of Bali Bombs’ victims and confused Western psychologists, so that the Western people called him a smiling terrorist. Meanwhile, Imam Samudra had written a book called “I am a Terrorist”. Until today, they don’t want to ask for presidential pardon and still smiling in welcoming their dying day. Amrozy and Imam Samudera actually are only samples of global political impacts, impacts of America’s political double standards.

US, CIA in this respect, wasn’t careful when deciding to train mujahidin in Peshawar to fight against Soviet Union in Agnostic. CIA thought “technically” that enemy’s enemy is friend, while those non-Afghan mujahidins coming to Afghanistan were mainly motivated by spirit of repelling disbeliever (kafir) soldiers from Afghanistan. They were ready to die not for any formal task or job, but due to call of their souls. In Afghanistan, Imam Samudera didn’t feel that he was an Indonesian, but an earth’s citizen struggling for wiping out oppression of disbeliever soldiers, such a spirit was felt by mujahidins around the world, both who were fighting in Afghanistan and those who were preparing themselves to go there.

Amrozy was belonging to the last category, since he only went to Malaysia. When US were showing their double standard clearly by relating terrorism to Islamic groups, Peshawar-graduated mujahidins turned to fight US previously training them. Bush once said, “Now for all nations of the world, there are only two choices; join America or join the terrorism”, those mujahidin veterans can’t possibly choose America. They were forced by America to be the superpower’s enemies. The America’s arrogance in only giving two alternatives is similar to that of in Cold War 1950, at that time John Foster Duller once said, to all the Asian and African countries there are only two alternatives either they going to join Washington, or they join Moscow.”
In his war against terrorism, Bush determines to run after the so-called terrorists wherever they are, while responses of the Peshawar alumni are no less strict, killing Americans, Civilians and military any where and any time. Amrozy and Iman Samudera have not been making Indonesia an enemy, but have been involved in a global war against America. Soldiers, however, may have certain mental disorders in war. For example, a super-sophisticated American ship once shot a pick-up car containing electrical poles since the pilot thought the vehicle was a tank. Similarly, Imam Samudra and Amrozy, in Bali bombs, couldn’t distinguish Australians from Americans. Therefore, global terrorism at present is more a political and economical tool and intelligence engineering than an ideological war. Furthermore, it is usually only stupid and narrow-minded people who can be trapped into becoming field actors of terrorism, while the intellectual actors are sitting comfortably while “calculating benefits of their projects”.