The fisherman and the bomb

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 08/24/2007 1:28 PM  |  Opinion

We are still in the dark as to whether the suspects in the case of the bombing in Pasuruan, East Java, are full-time fishermen or part-time terrorists, or both. Until the answer becomes clear we must presume their innocence following the blast in a Pasuruan home on Aug. 11 that killed three family members. Police have said they have not linked the blast with terrorism.

Reports following the incident cited findings of more and more explosives in the home of the suspect and his relatives -- with police announcing this included a large quantity of TNT.

They have yet to explain why shopping for TNT seemed to be relatively easy for people intending to bomb fish, or other creatures. The only explanation so far is that one of the sources of the explosives was an old warhead -- while others were from a man traced to Kalimantan, though few details are available.

The military is working with the police to work out what, precisely, civilians were doing with an amount of explosives that police think would be too much to use themselves.

Locals said the suspect's family are known as a family of fishing bomb makers, and that recently their bombs have drawn more interest because of their greater explosive power.

Poor fishermen across the archipelago welcome any potential boost to their income, to the distress of environmentalists who strive to raise awareness about sustainable fishing; but the temptation of the fish bomb spreads much faster.

So if a ""simple"" fisherman can have relatively easy access to explosives, including those usually reserved for the military or industries, what does that say about our security in a nation now known to be vulnerable to terrorist attacks?

As is often the case in this country, it is not that we don't have any rules. In April 1999, before the first bombing in Bali and before the first shock of the Christmas church bombings in 2000, then president B.J. Habibie issued a regulation on explosives for military and industrial use.

Among others, the distribution of such material required permits from the Defense Ministry, which would also issue recommendations to relevant ministries for the purpose of exports and imports.

The supervision of production, storage, distribution and the use of explosives were to be under the coordination of the National Police regarding material for industrial use, and under the Indonesian Military regarding explosives for military use.

Since then the country has seen several bombings, while Indonesia has gained international recognition for its efforts in fighting terrorism.

But as is obvious when the 1999 regulation is compared to the reality on the ground, lax law enforcement and low awareness on the part of the public has contributed to our constant exposure to danger.

To cite another hazard easily abused by terrorists, it is common practice to have more than one ID, the excuse being convenience, or to maintain prestige, in the case of former Jakarta residents who have moved to neighboring towns.

The ease with which extra IDs are procured by bribing local authorities with a few hundred thousand rupiah has proved to be an opportunity for those intending to do harm.

Indonesia's security forces now have many parties working with them to check the threat of terrorism. The findings of an abundant amount of explosives in a fisherman's home reveals the need for more help with either resources or capacity to curb access to dangerous material.

Meanwhile we know we have yet to find much solace in the international cooperation that was supposed to make us safer; for one main source of our insecurity still seems to be the poverty which attracts the buyers of fish bombs, or potential recruits to violence as the case may be -- and the pervasive corruption by which any rule we have is blithely ignored with a wave of a handful of cash.

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