Tue, Oct 15, 2002 page8

• Editorial: Terrorists can not hide

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  On Saturday night, terrorist bomb attacks leveled a nightclub on Indonesia's vacation paradise island of Bali, killing at least 190 people and injuring many more. As of press time yesterday, a number of people in the area, including a Taiwanese woman, were still missing. This newspaper expresses concern for Kuo Hui-min (郭慧敏) and hopes she will be found safe. We also send our deepest condolences to those who perished in the attack. We also condemn the individuals and organizations responsible for this terrorist attack. There can be no justification whatsoever for killing innocent people. These terrorists should be condemned by the entire international community and punished.

  On Sept. 11 last year, the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon sent shock waves throughout the world. The attacks changed the direction of the world's development and anti-terrorism became the most important issue for the US as well as the rest of the international community. The attacks also led to the US-Afghan war that toppled the Taliban regime. The Bali attacks may not trigger after-effects of the same scale, but they will have a consolidating effect on the global anti-terror drive. At the APEC leaders' summit at the end of this month, economic issues will be overshadowed by the urgent task of combating international terrorism.

  Fingers are being pointed at the al-Qaeda organization, but so far no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. No matter who planned and carried out these attacks, the consequences will be exactly the opposite of what the perpetrators want. If the attacks are a show of force or vendetta against the US and Europe, then they are completely misdirected. In fact, the attacks have given US President George W. Bush helping hand. France, Germany and Australia, which have opposed unilateral action by the US against Iraq, saw their citizens killed or injured in the blasts. The attacks have given Bush the perfect justification and will compel European countries to unite with the US in the pursuit of terrorist groups. Even Muslim countries may find it difficult to give these people asylum. The survival space of terrorist organizations and their members are shrinking.

  The Bali attacks were clearly meant to create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety around the world, but apparently there have only been grief and anger. On the contrary, surprise attacks on unarmed Western tourists in Indonesia only show that the terrorist organizations are at the end of their roads. When their safe havens cease to exist, they will be exposed and pursued by the international community.

  Force is never a good way to solve disputes. Retaliation cannot truly dispense justice. This newspaper does not support eye-for-eye terrorism or war because these will only generate more hatred and create a vicious circle of violence, thereby making it even more difficult to solve problems. However, terrorist organizations should not underestimate the effects of the attacks. Certainly, such attacks can wreak short-term havoc for a relatively low cost. However, they will trigger negative effects that are a far cry from the objectives of the perpetrators. The attacks will awaken the world to the understanding that procrastination and irresolution are not permissible in anti-terrorism. As the funeral bells toll, the terrorist organizations are only beginning to pay a price for their attacks -- a price that they cannot afford.
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