The World of Mine

My friend wrote this on her facebook status: "The strange thing is that on the door of Ibrahim's house there is this sticker reads, 'Be a good Muslim or die as syuhada', says a TV reporter.

And so what? I once had a key ring with that writing on. Does that make me a terrorist? What's wrong with being a good Muslim? What's wrong with ending life as a syuhada? Syuhada is those who die when defending Allah; and they deserve Heaven."

Some commented on her status, all expressing agreement with her. In one of her replies, that friend of mine --herself a journalist-- added,

"... It is so pity that a journalist doesn't have a good sense on religious issues. He doesn't seem to understand what syuhada is and yet labels his finding of the sticker as 'strange'. Perhaps he assumes that syuhada is identical with people giving their lives up to commit suicide bombing. But we Muslims know that it is not..."

This friend of mine was commenting on a TV news reporting the condition of the abandoned house of a terrorist suspect in the recent hotel blasts in Jakarta, who was a Ritz Carlton florist named Ibrahim. Ibrahim can't be found anywhere after the bombing; his family and now the police are still searching for him. DNA test has confirmed that he isn't among unidentified remains of two suspect suicide bombers and a victim.

What the TV reporter was trying to say with that "strange" word –and what makes my friend pissed off-- is that the suspect status of Ibrahim can be as if confirmed with his having that sticker with “Be A Good Muslim or Die as Syuhada” writing on the door of his house, along with the finding of other "strange" things such as a Koran, some Arabic books, and other such stickers.

Regardless of whether or not Ibrahim was indeed involved in the much-condemned terror action, my friend made the point: now such Islamic attributes, quite common especially among young Muslim activists, have been recklessly used to justify whether or not a person deserves named a terrorist suspect. Now it is likely Muslims trying to show their devotion to Islam, including those merely bringing the Koran in their bags every day or having those stickers on, all deserve being suspected as terrorists.

The TV reporter isn't the only one who has done so; I've read such reckless connecting to "strange" things found in Ibrahim's house to his alleged involvement in the terror bombing in a number of online and printed media in Indonesia.

This is of course very upsetting to many Muslims, especially those who are trying to be a devout one; like me.

I wear headscarf and long loose gown that might resemble appearances of the or terrorist suspects or convicts’ wives (unfortunately!), I used to always bring a small Koran in my bag when I was a university student (not again now because I can't possibly reading Koran while running here and there after news), and I maybe a supporter to some of those reasonable sharia-based laws. But, does that make me a potential terrorist? No. Of course not! I, with all my heart, condemn any terror actions such as the recent twin ones in Jakarta. I even feel personally (and selfishly, actually) very inflicted with the stupid blasts because now people start staring at me weirdly again, as if I were among the terrorist group, and because I'm afraid it will again spur the Islamophobia and fail my plan to pursue a Master's degree in Europe (with the Embassy, for example, refuses to grant me a visa or scholarship because of my look-like-a-terrorist attire).

And what about my fellow Muslims, some of who might even show more evident Islamic attributes such as having stickers with that die as syuhada writing on their book covers or computers, taking part in rallies against the Israeli occupation in Palestine in front of the U.S. Embassy, or preaching about Islamic law or state in mosques?

Does that mean they're potential terrorists too, or very deserve being suspected as terrorists all the times?

I am presently working in what some may call a liberal environment; but I once had a pretty close in touch with those dubbed as conservative, fundamentalist or whatsoever communities.

I thus understand very well that these groups or these people, however conservative, fundamentalist they are said to be, will never do such things as terror actions like those allegedly committed by Al-Qaeda or the deviant-wing of Jamaah Islamiyah (which is believed to be involved in the July 17 bombing of Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta).

They may be in support to jihad (holy war in Islam), or --as my friend did-- want to die as syuhada (martyr), but their understanding of the two terms is 180-degree different from that claimed by the terrorists calling themselves Muslims.

As most Muslims believe, they believe they can only do jihad and die as syuhada when they are indeed in physical battlegrounds; not at all in peaceful places such as New York, London, Jakarta, or Bali.

And they mostly very well understand that even during wars they are not at all allowed to kill civilians, women, children, and even enemies' troops hiding in houses of worships (the last of which because they are not allowed to destroy houses of worship including those belonging to non-Muslims, as well as not allowed to destroy trees).

Now compare that with the terrorists' actions, who have killed whomever they could kill --including women and perhaps children-- in places evidently not a battleground.

The terrorists, too, name their brutal actions a jihad, and perhaps believe that they have died as syuhada.

But, the first Muslim group and the terrorists are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

The so-called Muslim terrorists (if they are indeed Muslims) are merely a deviation, whose birth has been highly questioned among us Muslims because never in our history we’ve heard about such thing as Islam teaches about killing people outside the battlefield. Never in our more than 1,000-years of history we’ve ever heard that we Muslims are told to kill non-Muslims wherever we meet them (exception is again in battlefields, and there are rules to obey, too, here such as not allowed to kill women and children I mentioned above). In fact we’ve too well understand how our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had lived side by side with the Christians and the Jews along his ruling period in Medina, and so did his successors.

And that is why many of us quite believe that there must be some kind of conspiracy to slander the entire Muslims with this very sudden birth of the terrorists calling themselves Muslims and jihadists (since 2001, may I remind, when Al-Qaeda allegedly did the September 11 attack).

Now I understand that people, not only the bombing victims and their families and friends, must be traumatized with the terror actions. I myself am; I didn't even dare to go to public places such as shopping malls and theaters a few days after the recent Jakarta bombing (I think I feel better now, however, and am ready to immediately go to movie to watch Harry Potter!).

And the trauma might make it difficult for them to think clear, thus they can't perhaps help quickly associating people with the very Islamic symbols I mentioned above with possible terror threats.

I don't mean to tell security guards at hotels, malls or other public places not to check the belongings of us who might, because of the Islamic attributes, look suspicious. Please, check us all, but do it indiscriminately, because the real terrorists could be anyone of the visitors, though I believe they would be smart enough not to look Islamically to prevent suspicion.

But, please, don't continually see and treat us as terrorist suspects just because of the Islamic symbols. Don't generalize things; it won't solve problems anyway. And if mere Koran or headscarves can be dubbed a clue to examine whether or not a Muslim is a terrorist suspect or a potential terrorist, get prepared to search for the terrorist suspects among millions of Muslims in Indonesia alone.

Like Austrians, who wouldn't want to be called or suspected as an incest rapist just because of Josef Fritzl, or the homosexuals, who rejected possessive, jealous stereotypes just because of Verry "Ryan" Idam Henyansyah's alleged serial murdering; we, too, Muslims refuse to be linked with terrorism just because we show or pose some Islamic attributes as the terrorists and their families do.

And to the Indonesian authorities, if you mull to, as the Chinese government has been doing, imprisoning Muslim activists because you consider them extremists or fundamentalists or whatsoever and thus link them to possible terror threats, imagine you try to kill a fly with a bomb. The fly might die, but look at the destruction you make.

And the worst thing is if the fly is actually controlled remotely, and the very person operating the remote control is standing by your side safe and sound, laughing impishly at the evil work he's done.

The whole universe will condemn you, if the rest of human beings in the world don't.

Another bomb explosion. As I write this at least nine have been killed and 52 others have been injured in Friday morning's bomb blasts at U.S. hotel chains JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

The victims consist of both Indonesian and foreign nationals.

It is the first terror bomb again striking Indonesia after four years of peaceful period that just yesterday seemed to be gonna last forever.

But, it did not. Just after we begin to recover from the trauma left by the 2002 Bali I bombing, the 2003 JW Marriott bombing (yes it’s the same Marriott hotel), the 2004 Austalian Embassy bombing, and the 2005 Bali II bombing; just after the economy and national security are stabilizing; just after Indonesia manages to restore international confidence with the lift of ban on its flights to Europe; now another terror bomb strikes, slaughtering the innocents (at least in this whatsoever war against whatever) into pieces.

I am paralyzed; as I woke up this morning receiving an SMS from the press bureau of the Presidential Palace informing that the President was preparing to head to the bombing location.

'Gosh!' said I. 'What bombing?!'

I browsed the internet, checked the facebook status of my friends immediately, and found news that bombs exploded at JW Marriott on 07.40 a.m. and at Ritz Carlton on 07.42 a.m. and a few have been killed and dozens others injured.

I was preparing to go to the location, still fearing that another unfound bomb would explode while I was there, and thank God that another SMS arrived, telling me that the President decided to monitor the situation from the Palace instead.

He is now having a closed-door meeting with the National Police Chief, the State Intelligence Agency Chief, and the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs as I am writing this note, while waiting for his press statement.

… (sorry, interrupted because I had to listen to the press statement, follow the President to a hospital to visit the victims, and write news reports on it).

I wonder indeed; what the @#$^! is on the head of the bombers, whom the Police have now identified as suicide bombers (two of the killed victims are believed to be the bombers themselves).

The previous terror bombs were associated with that so-called Jamaah Islamiyah Islamic terrorist group (said to have a link to Al Qaeda), and that is pretty understandable as the Muslim world was just under attack with the US’ sending of its troops to Irak, which was later on proved as having nothing to do with nuclear issues.
(Not the terror bombs which is understandable, but their being associated with Jamaah Islamiyah).

Now although again many people immediately associate today’s hotel blasts with the extremist Islamist movement, it is hard to believe that any Islamist extremists were indeed involved in the attack, as they have now no reason to do so.

No motives. Nothing new happens in the Muslim world but the ethnic violence in Xinjiang, China, that has left 192 people dead, most of who were the Uighur Muslims. If this is the one that prompted the bombing in Jakarta, then it should have been the Chinese Embassy or Chinese-owned hotel chains that was bombed. But they are completely safe and sound.

Many people have now thus come to a conclusion that the bombing is very likely related to local issues, more specifically the recent presidential election that, according to several major quick count results, has brought President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to his re-election for second term (2009-2014).

Indeed, the President himself finally said in his press statement that the bomb blasts were likely related to dissatisfaction over the result of the election. He said he had received intelligence reports revealing plans to disrupt public order as soon as the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced the election result, scheduled for July 25.

These are excerpts of his statement in regard to the bombing:

"There were these terrorists having gunfire exercise making a photo of me as the shot target," Yudhoyono said, showing printed pictures of two terrorists wearing black masks and dressed in black outfits directing their guns on the shot target and of a photo of him with a hole on left cheek.

"These are intelligence reports; neither rumors, issues or gossips. We've never opened this to the public but we've been following and monitoring the development.”

…

Whatever actually happens; whatever has actually prompted the stupid bombers to again launch their attacks, now Yudhoyono and his rivals in the presidential election, especially vice presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Prabowo Subianto, are involved in heated debate over the President’s associating the deadly bombing with the election result.

Yudhoyono’s statement seems to direct the blame at Prabowo, and Prabowo’s camp accuses Yudhoyono of using up the situation to warn people not to show any rejection to the election result.

Which one is true? Let time tells, though maybe only God knows.

My mind is an endless battle
Of weakness and might
Of hopes and desperation
Of euphoric happiness
and melancholic sadness

My mind is a constant clash
Of the rightist and leftist sides of the brain
Of reckless free will and a sense of responsibility
Of ill prejudices and reasonable judgments

My mind is a neverending war
Of instinctive decisions and complex calculations
Of unstoppable thirst for adventures and a wish to curl at home
Of immense wants of changes and keeping things more of the same
Of a need to be part of others and to be left all alone

My mind is an ever-flaring combat
Of determination to exist and to disappear
Of eagerness to lead and be a mere follower
Of a passion for fame and to stay out of the spotlight
Of ambitions to conquer and a simple wish to settle

O yes my mind is an eternal battleground
Of that perfect self-control and emotional bursts
Of deep serious thoughts and foolish light daydreams
Of unaffected skepticism
and a hundred percent naiveness

O will my mind ever flee the forever fight?
Of a willing to grow up and to remain a child
Of boyish traces and womanly desires
Of worldly impulses and heavenly hopes

How can a mind be so conflicting?
How do two lateral poles lie rigid in a soul?
How sometimes I wish to kill the inconsistencies
Yet the other times I dub them very precious part of me

My mind is an endless battle
Which perhaps I shouldn't be so worrisome about
To some extent it makes my world colorful
And without it I'd never be me

West Nusa Tenggara’s Lombok and Sumbawa islands — renowned in particular for their marine tourism — look set to attract more visitors in the coming years, as they gear up for the Visit Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 campaign.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry’s director general for marketing, Sapta Nirwandar, said Thursday that West Nusa Tenggara province, located just east of Bali, would be a main focus of the ministry’s tourism programs in 2012.

The Visit Lombok-Sumbawa campaign will be launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Lombok by the end of the week to mark the beginning of West Nusa Tenggara’s preparations to reach its target of doubling visitor numbers to 1 million by 2012.

“We want to sell tourism in West Nusa Tenggara. We want to make Lombok an established center for the pearl trade and ecotourism,” Sapta said at a press conference in Jakarta.

Often dubbed more pristine and tranquil — and, arguably, more beautiful — versions of the neighboring Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa are home to myriad white sandy beaches and turquoise seawater, as well as rich underwater life.

Lombok in particular is a renowned center for pearl production and trade, and home to Mount Rinjani, the second-highest volcano in Indonesia and considered one of the best trekking spots in Asia.
The beauty and natural charms of the two islands, however, have been overshadowed by the worldwide popularity of Bali, due to a lack of promotion.

West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi, who also attended Thursday’s press conference, said the plan was not to develop Lombok and Sumbawa as competitors to Bali, but rather as complementary destinations, to provide a more varied set of options to tourists arriving on the Island of the Gods.

He added his province was eyeing Middle East tourists, who currently favored Malaysia as a vacation
destination.

To lure these tourists, the West Nusa Tenggara administration has signed a deal with Dubai-based Emaar Properties, which will invest a total of US$26.6 billion in developing a colossal tourism project in southern Lombok.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Agency, Lalu Gita Ariadi, said the province had been enjoying a steady increase in domestic and foreign visitor numbers in the past few years. In 2008, visitor numbers reached 500,000, almost half of them from overseas.

With a new, bigger airport scheduled to open in 2010, the number of visitors is expected to grow more significantly.

“Our main problem this whole time has been the limited access to the islands. When the new airport opens up, however, we’ll very likely have to revise our target for visitor numbers,” Lalu said, adding the target of 1 million tourists by 2012 had not factored in the influx of visitors the new airport would usher in.

The only direct international flight to the area is from Singapore to Lombok.

Famous Lombok tourist spots include Senggigi Beach, the famous three Gili islands, the West Nusa Tenggara capital Mataram, Mt. Rinjani, Lake Segara Anak and southern Lombok’s Kuta Beach.

Tourist spots in the more secluded Sumbawa Island include Mt. Tambora, Moyo Island, Jelenga Beach and Maluk Beach.

*Note: While "The Island of Gods" Bali is of Hindu majority, Lombok and Sumbawa Islands are Muslim majority; so it is easier for Muslim visitors to find halal food in the latter. Maybe that's why the West Nusa Tenggara governor has more confidence about luring Middle-East tourists to these two Indonesian islands.
Btw, as this story is published here, the campaign has already been launched by the Mr. President.