Another year, more Bali bombings. More Australian vitriol; more publicity for a hardline security approach; more op.eds. about Islam being an armed doctrine religion; and more international pressure on the Indonesian government to increase state repression.

Within Indonesia there is a conflict between the anti-modern conservatives against the modernisers, with the former trying to disrupt capital flows (tourism) in Bali, as the public culture of Indonesia becomes increasingly Islamic.

Indonesia should be supported in the efforts it has made in countering its homegrown terrorism, rather than just calling for a banning or outlawing of a fractured Jemaah Islamiyah and more talk about JI setting up an Islamic superstate across South-east Asia. If the JI style terrrorism is homegrown, then it may well be that Australia is not the primary target. The JI bombings have more to do with key conflicts inside Indonesia and the role of jihadist Islam in Indonesia.

Despite that, the pressure will be on in Australia to see a potential terrorist on the street of our suburbs and to cultivate a climate of excessive fear and hair-raising scenarios. These will then be used by conservatives to justify the further undermining of our democratic freedoms so as to protect our lives from shadowy threats.