Issues of the day: ‘Jakarta hotel blasts’

The Jakarta Post   |  Wed, 07/22/2009 10:27 AM  |  Opinion

Post-explosion: Antiterrorist officers check the site of a powerful bomb explosion at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jakarta. Bomb explosions at two of Jakarta’s luxury hotels – the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott –killed nine people on Friday. Courtesy of Presidential Office

July 18, p. 20  

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S. says nine people have been killed and dozens more injured in two powerful blasts that hit two luxury hotels in the Mega Kuningan business district in downtown Jakarta. Widodo told reporters six of the victims died at the JW Marriott Hotel, two others at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and one in hospital.

Your comments:

We condemn terrorism. We may prevent terrorist actions, but we may not prevent future, potential terrorist attacks. This is where preemptive action is warranted.

Where are the voices of the church (Catholic and Protestant), Muslim, Buddhist and other spiritual leaders? Have they publicly condemned terrorists?

All people must fear God and revere His Name. Why don’t we organize mass prayers for eliminating terrorist action and terrorists thoughts among our societies?

Can’t police offer high rewards (up to billions of Rupiah) for those whose information leads to the capture of (potential) terrorists while safeguarding informants from retaliation?

So, in the end Noordin M. Top achieved his mission and prevented Manchester United from playing in Indonesia against a local team.

It’s ironic and an act of bad taste by Manchester United to instead play a second game against a Malaysian team, the country of origin of Noordin Top.

This act is tantamount to another well-placed kick in the butt for Indonesia, not only from Manchester United but also from Malaysia (pun intended).

It demonstrates once again how much Malaysia respects Indonesia, as it has done on numerous other occasions.

On behalf of the Indonesian people I herewith thank Malaysia for the courtesy rendered. We will never forget.

As for Manchester United, I herewith express my deepest gratitude by wishing the team all the worse in the premier league for the coming years.

May you lose the title for the next 10 years or so to Liverpool. Apparently you not only lost Ronaldo but some decency as well. Cheers.

Condemning acts of terrorism and extending an elevated travel advisory from abroad would not make any difference as the ongoing damage has already been done. The world should work together before they can strike again and help vulnerable countries that they are not alone in the fight against evil perpetrators.

Those countries with limited resources should also stop pretending this disease would just disappear. Only Western allies have come out and condemned the acts. Why hasn’t the condemnation been voiced from other Muslim countries around the world and especially from the Middle East? Does this mean that they tolerate such attacks? If not then speak out instead of being silent.

Should profiling and background checks of guests at hotels become a policy to be implemented then let it be done. A person checking in without a credit card and insisting on paying cash at a five-star hotel should probably be of a great concern to the hotel management.

According to statistics, domestic crimes are committed in Europe, Australia and the United States and a high number of violent crimes ranging from aggravated assaults to murders, rape and robbery.
This criminal attack is another blow to Indonesia’s stability, and truthfully the government should not have let its guard down at all.

This shows that the government still lacks the capability to deal with security and intelligence information. How can foreign investors ever feel safe in Indonesia, let alone tourists traveling to Indonesia.

Indonesian politicians need to rethink long-term security to prevent such shameful events from happening again and again on our soil.

Islamic fundamentalism has spread around the world. A fact that is truly undeniable. Mainstream moderate Muslims from every nation should speak out against any types of extremism and criminals posing behind religion. Four years without a threat and such a shame it is starting all over again.

As the Indonesian minister of defense has pointed out, this bombing was not political, nor was it conducted by JI. Chasing after Noordin M. Top is just a red herring while the authorities go after the real perpetrators, whom they already know.

This has to do with the problems at the Grasberg Mine and was intended to target the mining group breakfast meetings at the two hotels’ restaurants.

Indeed, since both the minister and SBY said early on in all this, they have to look towards their neighboring countries to the south for an answer.

This is not the first time compatriots needed to be sacrificed for political and economic expediency.

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