Two separate bombs which blew up at a marketplace in the lakeside town of Tentena, Central Sulawesi in Indonesia on May 28 took centrestage yet again in the international media.
The twin bombings killed at least 20 people and left more than 50 others injured.
This is not the first time that Sulawesi or Celebes has taken centrestage in the foreign media.
The predominantly Christian population of Tentena comprising mainly refugees who had fled the neighbouring town of Poso, which had suffered violent communal clashes in 2001 and 1998.
Central Sulawesi on Sula-wesi Island is sandwiched be-tween Kalimantan to the west and the Moluccas to the east. It has a population of about 2.5 million people. The city of Palu is its capital.
Indonesia has witnessed many bombings since gaining independence, arising out of unresolved conflicts among its 280 million population.
Among those suspected of being perpetrators are alleged graduates of a military-style training camp in Mindanao, Philippines. Authorities have yet to establish possible connections with any other militant groups operating in and around Indonesia.
At least 15 suspects were roped in for investigations but so far none had been charged.
Some observers believe that militant groups operating in the region, namely, al-Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiah’ are the few groups that may have collaborated in carrying out the bombings.
The Tentena bombings were two major incidences since the Bali blast of October 2002 that killed more than 200 people, most of whom were tourists. However this time, there were no reports of foreigners among those killed in the blasts.
The surrounding region had on several occasions been the battleground for Muslim Chri-stian conflicts on the island. The conflicts in Sulawesi are said to be the result of a spill over of similar conflicts in Moluccas.
The Moluccas islands, to the east of the region, were also the scene of vicious communal fighting between Muslims and Christians between 1999 and 2002 which left over 5,000 dead. Although a peace agreement was reached in early 2002, sporadic clashes continue.
Security was increased throughout the nation, fearing fresh and intensified attacks by militant groups.
A day before the Tentena bombings, the US Embassy and its consular offices ceased operations temporarily in anticipation of possible attacks.
Warnings were dispatched by foreign embassies to their respective citizens cautioning them to distance themselves from possible target areas.
The Bali incident of November 2003, the JW Marr-iott Hotel bombing in Jakarta, sporadic racial clashes in Madura, Ambon, Makkasar and the Tentena bombings put into question the unity, integrity and security of Indonesia.
Indonesia, being the world’s largest archipelagic state, has been haunted by separatist movements in Aceh, Irian Jaya (Papua) and different parts of the country since indepen-dence from the Dutch colonial rule after the Japanese occupation in 1945.
This has had an adverse effect on the economy and has scared off foreign investors.
Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country with a population of 245 million of which 88% are Muslims.
Admittedly, it is not easy to administer such a vast region littered with more than 18,000 islands stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In spite of its extensive natural resources, Indonesia has not been able to fully consolidate efforts to rid itself from poverty and economic backwardness. It is still a recipient of economic aid and relies heavily on foreign aid especially from the West.
With 27% of its population living below the poverty level, unemployment is between 8% and 10% while inflation is at 6%.
Prior to the 1997 financial crisis, Indonesia’s GDP was at an average of 7%-8%. For the year 2005, the Asian Devel-opment Bank forecast GDP growth at between 5%-6%.
Indonesia is set to reposition itself for an economic recovery.
The events in Tentena may have, among others, highlighted the effect of inter-religious conflicts as a challenge for Indonesia with regard to maintaining peace and preserving a conducive environment for economic development; in other words, the preservation of peace and its sovereignty.
They have also shed light on the importance of having even distribution of wealth and opportunities, curbing corrupt practices and upholding integrity of governance.
A collapse or breakdown in any of these elements could result in the collapse of the entire system. This would be disastrous and detrimental.
Curbing religious extremism, and promoting tolerance and inter-religious harmony are of paramount importance to ensure positive development in other spheres.
Taking into consideration the conditions that led to the Tentena bombings, particularly from factors arising from inter-religious conflicts, Malaysia can learn a valuable lesson to thwart any such tragic events.
The Islam Hadhari approach proposed by our Prime Minister may be an impetus towards achieving religious harmony, peace and the creation of sound and conducive economic growth which are important to ensure, growth, development, peace and in preserving our sovereignty.
The events in our neighbourhood should be a reminder to us of how fragile our nation is, unless we take affirmative action.
The Islam Hadhari approach emphasises the importance of converging contemporary realities within the framework of Islam in building a civilised society.
The world’s society is not homogenous but is very much multicultural, multiracial and multi religious. Being a universal religion, Islam transcends the barriers of race, culture and language.
Islam considers these differences, namely race, culture and language, to be a blessing as reflected in the Quranic verse; “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah is full of knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)” Surah Al-Hujarat Verse 13.
Thus, the Islam Hadhari approach does not enforce or impose the superiority of Islam on peoples of other faiths and their traditions. It hopes to guide one along the path of moderation to seek the best of both the material and spiritual worlds.
While the Tentena bombings are a lesson to us, Malaysia’s Islam Hadhari can help us be a strong inter-religious and harmonious society and avoid all conflicts.