Terrorism Bogeyman

Indonesian military and police have a well reputation over the years for ‘free lance’ activities. So it was not totally surprising that former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid claims Indonesian police or military officers may have played a role in the first Bali bombing.
Wahid told SBS's [Australia] Dateline program that he had grave concerns about links between Indonesian authorities and terrorist groups and believed that authorities may have organised the larger of the two 2002 Bali bombings which hit the Sari Club, killing the bulk of the 202 people who died.
Needless to say, the claims are being rejected by the current government in Jakarta as well as Australia’s government and various ‘terrorism’ analysts.
Given the vested interests in terrorism, Wahid will need to come up with something concrete to support his claims.
Dateline also reported claims that Indonesian intelligence had close links with many local terrorist groups. "There is not a single Islamic group either in the movement or the political groups that is not controlled by (Indonesian) intelligence," said former terrorist Umar Abduh, who is now a researcher and writer.
The issue goes back many years in Indonesia. Commentators concede: “it is true that at times the Indonesian military has tolerated or even encouraged the radical Islamist movement.”
There is evidence that the military is deeply implicated in fomenting sectarian strife in troublespots like Sulawesi.Evidence of military backing for the Islamic terrorists emerged again in December 2000, when Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) co-ordinated attacks against Christian churches, killing 19 people and injuring 120 in a dozen cities.
Then, ducking for cover; “The military link in Medan, which was never thoroughly investigated, was an anomaly.”
Just as the US is justly implicated with dubious terrorist figures in the past, Indonesia’s authorities also have the dubious honour of consorting with there own home grown brand.

Just how much terrorism and its political capital are manufactured we will probably never know. What we do know is that the constant trickling of allegations cannot be ignored.
Security is a fundamental concern for all, and implying threats on that security has been standard practice for many years.
The sad part is that the general public fall for it over and over. Under the cover of ‘threat to security’ governments can go as far as they please in undermining the rights of their own citizens.
Time and again, the evidence used to support the current ‘war on terrorism’ is found to be faulty or just plain manufactured.
It seems governments can say ‘Boo!’ and compliant citizens will cover their faces and cower in fear.
Until citizens begin to wise up to the games of their political masters, issues like transparency and accountability will remain a dream.