printable version PDF version

Tembak Aja – “Just Shoot”
by cleaves Monday, Oct 3 2005, 9:34am
international / social equality/unity / commentary

The recent bombings in Bali have once again highlighted the inappropriate (disastrous) approach of the ‘us and them’ mentality. There is ‘no love lost’ in divisionism. The Australian Senate, take note! Western analysts fail to understand that Muslims take personally another Muslim’s plight. Race or nationality have little relevance in the context of the unifying familial aspects of Islam. Kill a Palestinian and Muslims in Indonesia, Sudan (everywhere) will feel the loss. Furthermore, many would feel obliged to take positive action to prevent the further loss of Muslim life. However, Muslim fanatics fail to understand a principal tenet of Islam, the brotherhood of all humanity; taking innocent life is strictly forbidden. But we take the simplistic view of the fanatics and Western politicians, the question should be, who benefits from these bombings?

There is a long history of militant Islamic groups in Indonesia. These groups have had (and continue to have) working relationships with corrupt police, military factions and other criminal groups.

The ethnic Chinese have been the traditional targets of militants since the removal of Dutch colonial powers. CIA intervention in Indonesia aided and legitimised the killing of millions of Chinese ‘communists’ (by proxy) and established the rule of a thoroughly corrupt military dictatorship in the form of the Suharto regime (what’s new?) This regime utilised the services of Muslim militant groups whenever they wished to remind the wealthy Chinese business sector to ‘pay’ their respects to a government that was ‘protecting’ them. Most bombings at that time were directed at Chinese Christian churches and Chinese business enterprises. Chinese persecution was a regular feature of Indonesian life and various parties profited from intimidating this small but wealthy minority. International outrage was noted by its absence; who intervened on behalf of the Chinese minority during those years of persecution? It took a strong warning from China to finally end the persecution. [The Western powers also applied pressure on the Indonesian government; they loathed the prospect of China having an excuse to intervene in this part of the world.]

With the demise of Suharto, militant groups were left without direction or a regular source of income. At this time, buoyed by their successful venture in Afghanistan, radical Islamic forces from the Middle East were in the process of establishing a global network. Loosely knit groups in Indonesia and the Philippines established closer relations under the banner of a new political/theological ideology. With a new ‘direction’ came a new enemy, the foreign infidel! The USA became the ‘great Satan’; Australia represents a lesser (deputy sheriff) satan.

These new groups possessed funds to establish an infrastructure that would perpetuate the new ideology. It should be stated that this new global network performs socially acceptable functions such as charity and other relief work. The ideological component is transferred through interpretations of the Koran.

An ideological phenomenon cannot be eliminated by the usual means of locating and eliminating leaders. The ‘leader’ is a belief system that can be represented by any Muslim at any time in any place. Historically, the ‘idea’ has always been the evasive invincible opponent!

Nevertheless, there remains much to gain from these bombings. Political manipulators like Howard (Blair and Bush) are bereft without a fear strategy to control the masses and justify their ultra-right-wing policies, which have little bearing on preventing terrorist attacks. They certainly are not one hundred percent saddened when these attacks occur! Ultra-right regimes cannot maintain their rule without the existence of a demonised ‘other’ or bogeyman. Since the collapse of the USSR, the communist bogeyman no longer presents as a viable tool for social manipulation. It was a bunch of fanatical murderers who ‘saved the day’ for the ultra-right; “terrorism” provided a desperately needed new enemy. And on it goes today!

I would urge everyone to take nothing at face value, these gambits are no longer a plain affair. After listening to the ‘lamentations’ of the Australian Senate regarding the latest Bali bombings it became plain that these politicians (on all sides of the spectrum) were only justifying their pay packets – the heart was far from the mouth. The most despicable and disgraceful fake outpouring of grief I have ever heard – but who would expect sincerity from a politician?

The simple answer to these attacks is to ask ourselves why our brothers grieve, and then implement every possible measure to eliminate inequity, poverty and injustice (the fruits of Capitalism). Divisionist social and economic systems such as Capitalism must necessarily die in order for humanity to live in peace.

We are One.