By Xinhua
Jakarta : Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Thursday said the government had successfully tackled terrorism that ravaged the country over the past several years and taken preventive measures against future attacks.
“The acts of terrorism that have haunted the people over the last few years have been tackled. Our efforts to prevent and tackle the acts of terrorism have been more successful,” Yudhoyono said in his state of the nation address.
But he warned that terrorism should not be handled on the surface alone.
“We must reach out and deal with it to the very roots, such as backwardness, poverty, injustice, extremism, radicalism and violent culture.
“We are very serious in preventing and fighting against terrorism to save the people and the nation, and create peace and prosperity,” he said.
Indonesia has seen several major attacks that killed over 240 people since the nightclub bombings on Bali island in 2002. More than 30 Islamic militants have been convicted for terrorist acts, with three of them sentenced to death.
The country is carrying out a major manhunt for Noordin Moh Top, the suspected brain behind the deadly bombings in 2002 and 2005.