INDONESIA, the largest Muslim country, consists of around 2,000 islands, some of which offer vast attractions for foreign tourists. Bali is one of such spots which unfortunately was the scene of devastating bomb attacks three years ago in which 202 persons, mostly foreign tourists, perished and hundreds were injured. The attackers were believed to be Islamic extremists who apparently did not approve of the merry-making and what is associated with night clubs, the main targets of terrorists, Once again, the popular tourist resort has been targeted by terrorists. On Saturday night, two powerful bombs exploded in crowded restaurants packed with tourists in the fishing village of Jimbaran causing widespread damage to human life and property. According to latest reports, 32 persons were killed and the number of injured, some with critical wounds, stood at over one hundred. The authorities in the island and experts have blamed Islamic extremists for these dastardly attacks on innocent tourists. The Indonesian President Susilo has strongly condemned the terror attacks terming these as crimes against humanity and rushed to the scene of occurrence.
Those who do not like the Western ways of life have no right to impose their thinking on others. Merry-making, liquor consumption, dancing, singing and music are part of Western culture. The fundamentalist Islamists may better stay away from such places instead of imposing their values in such areas by brute force. After all, Almighty has endowed the islands with such natural beauty that attracts tourists from all corners of the world. The tourism trade provides living to hundreds of thousands of Indonesians, mostly Muslims, besides boosting national economy. It is anti-people, anti-Islam and anti-Indonesia to destroy the tourist places. Terrorism is morally unacceptable and unpardonable crime and sin. However, mad people still want to ruin the tourist trade of Indonesia and in the process inflict colossal damage to Indonesian interests. In the early *80’s, extremists put to torch five-star hotels, night clubs and restaurants near Egypt’s pyramids causing irreparable loss to human life and property as also to Egyptian economy which depends to a great extent on tourism.
While Pakistan continues to play the role of a frontline state in the war on terror, President Musharraf has time and again stressed the urgency of addressing the root causes of international terrorism. These originate from continuing injustices to the oppressed people mainly in the Muslim world including the Israeli atrocities in Palestine, Indian troops’ reign of terror in the occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir and the way a new Charter is being forced on the people of Iraq. The Bali tragedy has once again underscored the need for eliminating all causes of frustration amongst the wronged people. However, under no circumstances the extremists have a license to take innocent human lives. Latest Bali terror attacks are abominable and words fail us to suitably condemn these dastardly crimes.

Unending wait

IF there were no extraneous issues, the political and economic integration of Turkey into the European Union would be challenging enough. The country has changed radically in the last 20 years. The minimum 10 years needed for preparation for EU membership will bring further profound changes. Unfortunately it is now clear that economic and political criteria are not the only things on the mind of some EU states. A core bloc of three countries — Austria, Germany and France — is opposed to Turkey’s membership for reasons which, however they may be dressed in diplomatic language, are racist. The 25 states in the EU are all nominally Christian. Though for a thousand years frequently at war with each other, they share a common cultural heritage. While constitutionally a secular state, most Turks are Muslim and although the Ottoman Empire played an important role in the formation of modern Europe, it was the role of a powerful outsider rather than an active participant.
The opposition of French, Austrian and German voters as well as their governments, appears to be visceral. There is little consideration being given to the alluring new internal market consisting of more than 70 million Turks nor of the immense economic impetus that the hardworking and eager country could bring to Europe. Perversely, it is the Hungarians, Greeks and Poles, historic enemies of the Ottoman Turks, together with the British, who are most in favor of Turkish EU membership. They perhaps also see how the inclusion of Turkey could broaden the security of the Union — which was one of the prime original objectives. After all, throughout the Cold War, the European members of NATO were happy to rely on the major contribution made by Turkish arms.
The unseemly Austrian rejection of Turkey’s application just days before the start of formal accession talks could therefore harm the EU as much as it harms Turkey. Ever since the first formal application under the ?zal government 25 years ago, pro-Europeans in Turkey have been working hard to win over a skeptical Turkish population to the European ideal. Turkey has made immense strides though certainly much remains to be done. A rejection now, however, will confirm the skeptics and could lead to a profound realignment of Turkish foreign policy. There are already those in Ankara who believe the country should promote a political and economic bloc with the Turkic republics of the former Soviet Union; this would number some 400 million.
The danger of a Turkey cast adrift from its European ambitions is that internally it could become prey to the old tensions which saw the country on the brink of civil war 30 years ago. These produced the country’s third military takeover. The Turks are proud and prickly and though they have borne snubs from some EU members for years, they have preserved a dignified patience. Now the intemperate rejection by Austria, which holds the EU presidency next, may well be the last straw. The Turks may now begin asking themselves if they really want to join a union of bigots.

—Arab News