Australia & Indonesia : A strange bedfellow (1966-present)

While political turmoil resulted in worsening economic downturn, age-old rivalries between races, tribes and religion has resurfaced. Aceh, Banjar, Banyuwangi, Makassar, Manado, Poso, Maluku and even Jakarta were all in state of disorder. While tribe and races infighting was quickly quelled by deploying reinforcement from Java-based garrison. The ones that fuelled by religious fervor is not easily quenched. While shabbily educated pious Muslims were marching en masse to Poso and Ambon in their jihad, these recruits were easily turned back by the authorities. But a new generation of college and university educated individuals that failed to get employment during the crisis, found a higher calling, the call of jihad. These generations would culminate in a string of bombing that awaken Australia. And finally led Australia to realize that she was sleeping next to Indonesia all along.

In the vibrant nightlife of Bali, two loud explosions were heard. A dastardly terrorist attack, directed toward unsuspecting tourists, claimed over 100 lives. 88 of them were Australian. While an ongoing crackdown was conducted, another bombing spree in Jakarta highlighted the vulnerability of a nation that still recovering from economic bout. Finally, as if to rub salt into open wound, the bastion and symbol of the Australian nation, the embassy itself, were also bombed, causing multiple fatalities and wounding over 100 people.

While the cause is still debatable, it is clear that a new threat has reemerged. Indonesia has had its fair share of radical groups, from its infancy. But this current threat shows that a new generation is in the making, and old methods were forsaken. The result is that Australia essentially funded a new contra-terrorism unit in the police. Ratcheted up various aids and ultimately, making Indonesia the largest receptor of Australian aid.