World Events

The tribute vice pays to virtue

John Quiggin13 Comments

It’s worth recording that JI leader Abu Bashir has denounced the latest Bali bombing. Of course this is stinking hypocrisy – Bashir has been up to his neck in terrorism. If he had really changed his views, he would have confessed his previous involvement and repudiated his past actions and words including his praise for bin Laden.

Still, it is significant that Bashir feels the need to make such a statement. Partly no doubt he’s trying to get out of jail as soon as possible. But it’s also an indication that he realises how little popular support he has in Indonesia. If he had a strong support base he would be defying the authorities, and seeking a triumphant release, rather than currying favour with statements like this.

Finally, although it’s unlikely that Bashir has any connection with day-to-day operations, this statement makes it more likely that the latest attack was carried out by a splinter group and that some associated with JI have realised the futility of their resort to terrorism, particularly domestic terrorism.

13 thoughts on “The tribute vice pays to virtue”

  1. And here’s an interesting snippet from the same story:

    “However, Hidayat Nurwahid, chairman of Indonesia’s Parliament and leader of the major Muslim political force, the Prosperous Peace and Justice Party, blamed the bombings on rivalry within the tourism industry.”

    Is this a tribute to the strength of the profit motive when young men are prepared to blow themselves and a whole lot of innocents up in the cause of market share?

    Meanwhile back in the real world, statements like Bashir’s are indicative of the good policy of the governments and other agents of Western nations adopting a careful, cautious line in relation to these atrocities.

    Best to portray emphasise the fact that everyone is equally a victim of these outrages, regardless of colour or religion. One disastrou alternative is to make vengeful statements or to take actions that remind folks of colonialism.

    These outrages are primarily an Indonesian affair. Indonesians should be given as much space and time as possible to deal with the problem.

    Only then will activists cease to expect a practical measure of popular support. and it is only then that Indonesians will start turning them into Indonesian authorities.

  3. Jumping to very early conclusions about guilt, for a crime, is tabloid material.

    J.Q ,wouldn’t it be fair , rather than apportion blame to a particular group , you wait and find out. Your respect for Indonesian work on investigating the bombings is obvious.

    Might it not be appropriate to give them, a go/chance?

  5. I agree with Cameron and with John. Something good seems to be emerging from recent tragedies. Sensible responses from the government and people of Indonesia that hopefully will limit future nastiness.

  6. Abu Bashir is pure scum. His duplicity is undeniable. On the one hand he denouces Bali2, then claims it is some type of ‘sign’ from God – apparently God is so inarticulate that his only means of communication with man is through indiscriminate bombs!

    Perhaps God was a victim of an outcomes based education system!

  10. George the second, has been at pains to deny God suggested he invade Iraq. Hope that is the truth. We hear less and less about the casualties ,there. Despite the fact, we joined an illegal war ,that is now out of control. While we are bombarded ,daily,about the threat of “terrorism”, state-sponsored terrorism is off the aggenda.
    Just speaking the bleeding obvious,yes. If only language was the casualty. No people hurt or injured. Sadly ,we are losing even that ,in the propaganda game. Perhaps i should have posted on weekend reflections.

  11. I need to correct you slightly Joe2.

    Here is an extract from the relevant press conference explaining Bush’s actions in this interesting case of Divine Guidance:

    “Question: Are you aware of the — there’s a BBC broadcast tonight that’s quoting the Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister as saying that they were in a meeting with the president in June of ’03, and there are some very detailed quotes here, saying that the president said to them, “God told me, ‘George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan,’ and I did,” and then “God told me, ‘George go and end the tyranny in the Iraq'” and so forth and so on?

    “McCLELLAN: No, that’s absurd. He’s never made such comments. ”

    Now this is a very artful answer. It leaves open the answer to several very important questions.

    1. Did Bush ask God and get a negative answer which he chose to ignore?
    2. Did Bush ask God and get the go-ahead but is now disinclined to take credit for his first-name relationship with the Deity? (Is that the cock I hear crowing in the background?)
    3. And most worryingly, did Bush neglect to ask God before making the most fateful decision of his life? This is a very grave possibility. Millions of Christian Americans voted for Bush on the understanding that he had committed himself to do God’s will during his tenure in the White House. What does this neglect to consult The Cause of Causes suggest about the truthfulness of his commitments he made to all those God-fearing folks? Is this not a belated reminder that even the Devil can quote Scripture?

  12. Apparently Indonesia’s rationale for not banning Jemaah Islamiyah is that under Indonesian laws dating back to the suharto era all political and religious organisations need government authorisation to operate.

    Like many such organisations, JI never bothered to apply for such permission so as far as the Indonesian government is concerned it’s already an illegal organisation.

  13. Thanks Katz, I stand ,”slightly corrected”. Just hope the little devil does not go further and take on Iran. Is there anything in the scriptures on hypocricy?

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