I just want to expand this post today to cover an international issue. You know, for interest’s sake.
“IN MARCH this year, a group of Islamic radicals were scoping out new targets in Bali, hoping to enact their own murderous 10th anniversary of the 2002 attacks”, read the opening par of a SMH article today.
Hang on. Attacks against Australian’s. This brings us in the loop a little doesn’t it?
“They had surveyed the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Kuta and the Australian-run La Vida Loca bar in Seminyak. They had chosen a suicide bomber and planned to fund the operation by robbing a money changer and a gold store.”
Let’s pause. That brings us in the loop more than a little.
The thing is, Samdura and Amrozi, who executed the Bali bombings of 2002, radicalized these individuals in Kerobokan prison. SO it is completely fair to say that:
“Indonesia’s prisons are a breeding ground for terrorists, and so are some of the Islamic boarding schools. But despite the ever-present threat of terrorism, the Indonesian state shows little interest in tackling this issue.”
Moreover, “Since the first Bali attack, Indonesia has arrested 700 people for terrorism offences and prosecuted 500. For every 10 prosecuted, another one suspected terrorist – including some of Asia’s most dangerous men – has been killed by police on the streets.”
So what we have here is a dual-structured problem. A police force that has arrested an immense number of terrorists. But a government that is doing nothing to stop such ideals breeding. There is no focus on prevention, and let me tell you, that marks a large problem for us.
“Many now believe that law enforcement alone is not enough. They say the country’s jihad factories, which still pump out recruits, must be shut down and the radicals de-radicalised. The effort so far, though, has been piecemeal and anaemic, marred by poor funding and follow-through and an apparent lack of political will.”
Now let me point you to another fact. Despite the Indonesian government’s lack of ‘care factor’ in regards to preventing terrorism within its prisons, boarding schools, and general society, Australia’s funding to the country is persistent.
The estimated ODA to Indonesia in 2011-12 is $1,2657 million, indicated a report from AusAid.
I think it is fair to ask, if a government is not actively attempting to put down those who are ultimately, and extremely radically against Australian ideals. Then why fund such a government?
Why not enforce stipulations on our aid, namely, that the Indonesian government needs to act against terror in its country an address the issues of extremism in prisons and schools.
Abu Bakar Bashir, who is only serving 15 years for setting up a paramilitary training camp “ asserts that the massive bombs [used in the Bali bombings] were set by three individuals, ”Mukhlas and his two friends”. He calls them ”mujahideen [holy warriors] who actively defended Islam” and were ”slaughtered by the Jews, the United States and their allies.”
The above establishments also come at a time where the High Court of Australia ruled against ASIO, asserting that they cannot hold refugees who they believe to be massive security threats.
So now we have a third element to this already loaded problem. A foreign government, which we provide aid to, who does not actively prevent the radicalization of its people, and a judiciary at home who does not believe in holding those who are pose a threat to our national security.
This is a sickening problem, which is multi-faced, and where not one of it’s sides seem to factor in the Australian public. Their safety. Their rights to be protected.
What the hell is going on? Are we really protected enough?
References,
Bachelard, M. October 2012, Sydney Morning Herald, http://www.smh.com.au/world/j-is-for-jihad-20121006-27645.html
AusAid, http://www.ausaid.gov.au/Publications/Documents/strat-approach-eastasia-2011-15.pdf
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