The death of Osama Bin Laden was celebrated around the world as a victory for justice, but many people cautioned that it would not end terroist attacks or ease suffering of those who lost loved ones in bombings by al-Qaeda linked militants.
Spontaneous cebratory rallies broke out in New York City at Ground Zero, where the Twin Towers fell on September 11th, 2001, and outside the White House where President Barack Obama made the historic anouncement.
At the same time, US embassies across the glode were placed on high alert and Americans warned about possible reprisals for the death of the man who masterminded the September 11 attacks.
“Al-Qaeda will continue”, said Haroun Mir, an Afghan analist in Kabul, who added that the death in a raid on a mansion in Pakistan vindicated long allegations by Afghanistan that bin Laden enjoyed, ‘safe havens’ in the neighbouring country.
Chairul Akbar, secretary general of the anti-terroism agency in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation and a frequent al-Quaeda target, expressed jubilation about the news. Attacks blamed on al-Qaeda linked militants have killed more than 260 people in Indonesia, many of them foreign tourists.
“We welcome the death of one of the world’s most dangerous men and highly appreciate the United States’ help in crushing this global enemy”, he said.
“He couldn’t be allowed to live. He helped spread a dangerous ideology all over the world, including in Indonesia.”
Said Agil Siradj, chairman of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, said bin Laden’s death will help restore the image of Islam as one of people, not violence and radicalism.
“But I don’t think terrorism will stop with his death”, Siradj said.
“As long as there is oppression and injustice against Muslims in Palestine, it will continue”.
by Mike Hansom
