However, the sense of security goes awry in reformation era. The democratic government turns trepidation and indecisive in handling the religion-inspired agitators. Despite some successful crackdowns, terrorists and hardliners bloom at the alarming rate.
Indonesia has seen unprecedented attack ranging from bombing the churches, tourist areas, hotels, embassies and recently, the mosque, torturing minorities to sending booby-trapped books. What’s really thrilling is that some attacks were carried out by suicide bombers.
Indonesia is not Afghanistan yet. However, this nation is heading to that way unless the government takes immediate action to exterminate these horribly destructive groups.
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First off, why the terrorists and hardliners thrive in democratic Indonesia but not in New Order era should be answered. Is it because of global terrorism network? Or is it because of social and economic injustice?
Surprisingly, in a way the explanation of Indonesia’s rising terrorism can be learned through the recent caterpillar outbreak.
Of late caterpillars attack Java islands stretching from Bali to Jakarta. Bizarrely, among the regions plagued, Probolinggo, where Mount Bromo had erupted, took the brunt of it. In Probolinggo, there are 14.500 trees infested by caterpillars, while other areas less than 50.
What is the common account of spreading caterpillars, particularly in surrounding area of Mount Bromo, and spreading terrorists and hardliners?
The answer is the disruption of the predator population!
As explained by insect specialist of Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Hermanu Triwidodo, the caterpillars overwhelming Probolinggo is caused by the absent of their natural predators which perish due to Mount Bromo eruption.
Biologically speaking, the relationship between prey and predator puts the ecosystem into balance. Predator plays dominant role in containing the growth of prey population. Once it is disrupted, the prey becomes more populous and uncontrollable, and finally ruins the entire ecosystem.
This biological point of view shed light on why Indonesia’s terrorists and hardliners thriving post-Pak Harto era. It is because their predators: resolute law enforcers of no avail. Security officers might be afraid to take firm action on grounds of human rights.
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It’s not too late for the government to turn the course of security policy. The government can follow historical precedent of which good guys outdid bad guy on street justice stage.
The memory dates back in 1983, when the bad guys prevailed. It isn’t so clear why it happened, but suddenly the number of crime increased rapidly both in quality and quality. Ubiquitous robberies following with killings sparked deep concern to the stout-hearted then-President Soeharto. He regarded the thugs had been doing beyond the limit, and decided to wage wars against them.
It was Lt. Col. Mohammad Hasbi, Commander of Yogyakarta Garrison blazed a trail by launching Operation Crime Eradication. The first bullet had been shot in Yogyakarta. Later Commander of Defense Territory Command II, Lt. Gen. Widjojo Soejono announced this kind of operation will be implemented nationwide.
The operation sparked fears among the criminals. One by one they were shot dead. In his biography, Pak Harto explicitly acknowledged the criminals’ corpses - most of them marked with tattoo – deliberately abandoned on street with regard to giving shock therapy.
At that time in Pontianak I remembered, no youngsters dared to sing, playing cards and get drunk outdoor at night as they are used to. Nobody bragged about their tattoo. Nobody wanted to be conspicuously identified as bandits or gangsters which once useful to intimidate other people.
Despite human rights activists’ rant, the operation was very successful. The lawbreakers had been stamped out by unofficial law enforcement – the press called it mysterious shooters. It did worked and ward off crime, at least for some time.
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Escalating terrorists and hardliners are definitely Indonesia’s clear and present danger. They churns out fast, becomes stronger and provokes anxiety, owing to their predators has been absent for so long time.
At this critical juncture, government whom naturally equipped with coercive power and rights must exert violence against violence. There is nothing to be afraid of. After all Obama ordered his predators to kill Osama without any trial and even he saw the killing operation through live broadcasting.
Human rights concerns must be placed rightly in broad security perspective. And Indonesians can judge it well too. In 1983 after the Pak Harto’s predators finished the jobs, 65% of Tempo readers approved the mysterious shooting operation.
Finally, Indonesians deserve peaceful life as seen for decades under the very strong government. Indonesia’s peace loving majority should be protected. Despite respecting human rights – by the way bandit and human rights is not suitable pair – if things has gone wrong, all options, deploying predators included, should be put on the table. And nature teaches us that predator does matter whether you deal with caterpillar or criminal.
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References:
1. http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/members/teachers/Wolves.pdf
2. Caterpillars Everywhere, Tempo Magazine – English Edition No. 34/XI/April 20-26, 2011
3. Biography of Benny Moerdani – Profil Prajurit Negarawan by Julius Pour
4. Biography of Soeharto – Pikiran, Ucapan, dan Tindakan Saya by Ramadhan KH
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