The Wire

On the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the first Bali boming, today Foriegn Minister Alexander Downer is in Indonesia, urging its government to take a tougehr stand against terrorism. At the top of the agenda is a push by the Australian government to convince Indonesia to ban the terror group Jemaah Islamiah, which is thought to be behind the latest bombings. But the government faces significant hurdles in its bid. Alexander Downer has admitted than banning JI is more a symbolic gesture than a practical measure in curbing terrorism in the region. Almas Mistry spoke to journalist and author Sally Neighbour, who has written a book about terrorism called “In the shadow of the swords”.