Jakarta – Indonesia is still "very weak" fighting terrorism because of soft laws and is just waiting for the next attack, the head of the government's anti-terrorism board said on Thursday, days before a visit by US President George W. Bush.
In frank remarks to foreign ambassadors, police general Ansyaad Mbai said soft anti-terror laws and a domestic media that gave excessive airtime to militants were chinks in the armour.
The world's most populous Muslim nation had been seen as the weakest link in the war on terror in Southeast Asia until the Bali bomb attacks one year ago, which killed 202 people.
Since then, Indonesia has arrested 100 Muslim militants over the bombings and other attacks, earning praise, although many analysts say it has much work to do, especially in waging a "war of ideas" against radicals.
"Has our success in the Bali investigations been able to ensure that we can stop terrorist actions in Indonesia? My answer is a clear no. We are very weak," said Mbai, who heads the Coordinating Board on Counterterrorism, tasked with straddling the main security agencies and the government.
"The legal support is very weak. Our law is too soft to combat terrorism. With this kind of situation, we are only waiting for another attack." Bush will meet President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Bali next Wednesday during a visit lasting several hours. Fighting terrorism will focus prominently.
Indonesia was vulnerable without laws that could root out attacks at the planning level, said Mbai. Jakarta issued anti-terror legislation after the Bali bombings, but it is not as draconian as that used by neighbours Singapore and Malaysia.
Mbai also blamed the domestic media for giving militants too much space to express their views. "Our press has been gullible in taking the opinions of these people. Our press always prefers the hot news, bombastic statements from radicals," said Mbai.
"Look at how they report Al-Ghozi as if it's the homecoming of a great hero from a battle," said Mbai, referring to coverage of the return of the corpse of Indonesian Muslim militant Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, shot dead by Philippine troops on Sunday.
Scores of militant supporters unfurled banners idolising the self-confessed bombmaker of the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah when his body arrived at his East Java home before dawn on Thursday.
The Australian ambassador to Jakarta said the Indonesian media had largely ignored tough anti-terror comments from Indonesia's Chief Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a memorial service marking the first anniversary of the Bali attacks on Sunday.
Yudhoyono called the Bali bombers "diabolical men". "You won't find those comments in the Indonesian media. That's a great pity. That sort of comment needs to be disseminated and given coverage," said David Ritchie.
"Let us not dignify these people with any sense of philosophy or representation of Islam. They're not Islamic people. These people are murderers, criminals. Nothing more."