A Ban on Terrorism?

Jemaah Islamiah is the South East Asian version of al qaeda. They work out of countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Tagged JI, they are the ones reportedly responsible for the Bali bombings and other assorted atrocities in the region.There was reference to allegations of Indonesia’s involvement with JI, see post; Terrorism Bogeyman.To be sure, these allegations were, and remain, unsubstantiated. Circumstantial evidence might abound, but it does not prove fact.The Australian Government, who are well versed at using terror as a public control measure, are today crying that Indonesia will not oblige them on banning JI.For Australia, such a ban would serve to underline their ‘strong’ approach to terrorism issues. The cowered public would no doubt be assured that the ‘deputy sheriff’ in Asia was hard at work.
For Indonesia, with its largely Muslim population, would serve only to weaken the fragile political alliances of the country.
Whether there is any truth to military and police involvement with JI is largely irrelevant to the wider political implications for that country.
The real point, however, is the belief that a ban on JI would have any real effect on what is a secret organization anyway. Not even the risk of driving them ‘underground’ can be a concern when that is how they already operate.
Seeking to ban a shadow organization is just a political nonsense. It is grandstanding of the worst kind.