Global Terrorism

Paper of Seminar Ulamas Role in Overcoming Global Terrorism

Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

Global Terrorism1
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

Before speaking about Global Terrorism, it would be appropriate to first explain the meaning of terrorism, its motivation and its nature and to ask what are the characteristics of a terrorist? Terrorism is acts of extremist violence and intimidation undertaken in the name of a supposed political cause. It is carried out systematically and indiscriminately against both the state targeting the executive, legislative and judiciary institutions of government and the nation targeting citizens from the socio-political elite to the everyday individual. History has shown that the perpetrators of terrorist acts are not the reserve of religious groups but have also been carried out by political organizations (both from the right and left), nationalist organizations, ethnic organizations. We can even say the armed forces and the police have been guilty of committing acts of terrorism. Many terrorist acts in the world were inspired and influenced by the terrorist movements found in Europe during the 19th century. These were characterised by radical political aims, at odds with the publics interests and were of an anarchic nature. With the development of technologies in the fields of information & communication, explosives, transportation and so forth, the impact, damage and destruction of terrorist actions has significantly increased.
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This Paper was presented in Seminar Ulamas Role in Overcoming Global Terrorism, Pondok Pesantren Kempek Cirebon, Cirebon 16 18 March 2012
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Through the use of television, radio, and social networks like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, coverage of terrorist violence can quickly and almost instantaneously reach a global audience. In this way, the view, demands and political targets of terrorists swiftly grab the attention of millions of people worldwide. This means that through acts of terror, the terrorists goal of attracting worldwide publics attention to the cause and demands of terrorists are more effectively achieved. The difference between the terrorism of today and the terrorism of the past is that today we see more widespread destruction and heavier civilian casualties. Terrorists are deliberately engineering and striking terror randomly and indiscriminately, targeting populated locations and high bustle area in order to gain more attention. Lacking in local mass support, terrorists employ acts of violence to get the attention they demand. These acts of violence include kidnapping, bombing, pirating and high jacking airplanes. By the 20th century, we have witnessed certain changes and developments related to the means and motives of terrorists. Terrorism has taken the form of political movements that make a series of demands covering a wide spectrum of motives be they religious, ethno-nationalists, economic and so forth. This can be seen from events that have taken place in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Technological development such as improvements in guns, automatic weapons, compact explosives with remote devices, etc. has increased the mobility, timeliness and the magnitude of damage caused by the violent actions planned by terrorist. These terrorist movements are usually organizations, individuals or even political institutions that seek to destabilize the state, its government and existing government systems through changing the constitution.
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However the use of terrorism as a political vehicle is not the reserve of those who seek to change the state, its government and existing government systems. It can also be said that those who seek to maintain the status quo, i.e. the state itself have employed terrorist methods. From the governments perspective, a movement calling for total change through the use of violence and unconstitutional means are labelled terrorists. However from the perspectives of these change and rebellion movements, it may be conceived as a process of struggle with all of its impacts. To highlight the point of terrorism in a broader meaning we can refer to examples from the 20th and 21st centuries. Chief among them are: Anti-colonialism movement (Indonesia-Dutch, Vietnam-French,

Algeria-French, Ireland-England, Vietnam-USA) Problems between ethnic groups, issues of justice and territories (Palestine-Israel, Spain-Basque, India and Pakistan) Conflicts between religious beliefs (Catholic-Protestant in Northern Ireland), Radicali Islam (Iraq, Al Qaida, Taliban) Overcoming radicalism in the nation (Malaysia, India, Philippines, Iran Iraq, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Argentina) A few examples of radical and revolutionary movements that utilized sophisticated terrorist means and methods in the late 20th and 21st century include: revolutionary groups such as Baader-Meinhof in Germany, the Red Army in Japan, The Red Brigade in Italy and Zwickauer Neonazi-Trio in Germany; Islamist groups such as Al Fatah, Hamas, Taliban and Al Qaeda; and extreme right anti-Islam movement such as Anders Behring Breivik in Norway.

The use of advance and sophisticated technology are not only advantageous to improving the peoples welfare the nations quality of life, but can sadly also be abused by terrorists and criminals intent on causing harm to others! The terrorist and criminals (Al Qaida, IRA, Red Brigade, etc.), wherever they are, can enhance their regional and international cooperation. They are abusing the process of globalization for developing their criminal organizations and international terror networks, consequently undermining peace, welfare and our quality of life. To deal and confront these threats requires a comprehensive approach that employs new ideas and sophisticated strategies including the use of technology. By enhancing international or global cooperation in fighting terrorists and criminals, we will be able to live in a more peaceful and prosperous world. It requires a thorough and thoughtful review over the forms and concepts we use when talking about defense and security; in terms of its frameworks and institutions. Currently the discourse on defense and security has the tendency to be too focused on war and security otherwise known as classic conventional security threats. However is it not time to pay more attention to peace issues and human security? In addition, due to the increasing complexities of confronting an unclear and invisible enemy, it becomes necessary to have a weapon technology system with new structures and platforms, adapted to the tactics, methods and ways of terrorism and crime at the three levels of national, regional and global.

International and regional cooperation is important, with the perquisite to improve the national security as the mainstay in facing the global terrorism that is operating nationally. Indonesia is no exception. Indonesia is a nation with pluralistic values. Our bhineka society upholds diverse religious and cultural values. However, that diversity can be abused, and minorities can be identified as misfits, incompatible with other groups, tribes and races. Such a situation can synergize with similar movement in foreign countries, through regional and international networks. Extreme and radical groups will expose the misfit to terrorism by exploiting all the facility of terror in order to successfully foster a small group ideology and implement their campaign of violence and intimidation to destabilize the legitimate government and disturb the public tranquillity. However if diversity is properly utilized, it can result in positive cooperation and synergy between groups, tribes and races, improving productivity and competitiveness within the society and leading to a prosperous and peaceful world. This was proved in the American society since its establishment and also the German society since 50 years ago. Right radical groups in Indonesia have attempted a number of times to use terrorism to destabilize our peaceful way of life. The bombing of Marriot Hotel in Jakarta in 2003 and in Bali in 2005 are one of the examples of the regional terrorist cooperation Hambali and Riduan Isamuddin with national terrorist. Although they may try to destabilize us, fortunately they have never achieved. Since the fall of the worlds left hegemony (the Soviet Union), the threat and power posed by extreme left radicals are not as strong as they once were. This is true everywhere where they operate nationally, including Indonesia. With that reason, in this era, only right and ethnic extreme radical groups
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are able to abuse the freedom of sophisticated technology to conduct terrorist acts. Terrorism is the human act of radically imposing its will on others by utilizing violence. Therefore the quality of life, attitude and productivity of human resources, becomes crucial. The quality of education, upbringing and employment are the most reliable ways of confronting terrorism and can be an effective anti-terrorism approach. Pesantren and Kyai are able to improve the iman and taqwa (Imtaq) through upbringing by emphasizing on love in a broad meaning. Love in a broader meaning means love between two people, between human beings, between human beings and its environment, peoples love to their tasks, work and skills through mastering science and technology. Was it God who created the entire universe including the life in it? Could God hate His work and His creation? From these two questions, we are able to conclude that systematically the improvement of human resources can counter the growth of terrorism anywhere throughout time. I am sure that the forum Seminar with theme Ulamas Role in Pesantren in Overcoming Global Terrorism, that was organized by the Pondok Pesantren Kempek Cirebon, will be able to give advice and inputs on how to Upbringing and Educating in a righteous manner must be develop and implemented in Pesantren, insya Allah.