(Another) Failure to protect
(Another) Failure to protect
It was another black day for Indonesia as families and friends on
Monday buried victims of Saturday's bombings in Tentena, Central
Sulawesi.
Feelings of sorrow and anger have again been stirred. Our
condemnation is beyond expression.
However, more than ever our grief is fueled by increasing
frustration. More terrorist attacks in an area with a long
history of violence, and during a period of raised alert levels,
confirms the growing suspicion that the country's security
apparatus is sadly incompetent.
Fighting a cowardly enemy that has no tangible shape is a
formidable task, especially in a country the size of Indonesia
that is at the same time undergoing seismic social changes. It is
too simple to lay all the blame on the security forces. But
neither should they evade responsibility.
Accountability should come from the top. It is bewildering how
anyone can insist on staying on as the National Police chief, for
example, after having failed to protect innocent citizens from a
series of major terrorist attacks that have claimed hundreds of
lives.
While a number of suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2003
J.W. Marriott terrorist attack and the 2004 explosion in
Kuningan, South Jakarta, have been apprehended, it cannot be
ignored that all of these attacks occurred under the watch of the
same chief of police.
Clearly, the time has come to say that National Police chief
Gen. Da'i Bachtiar must go.
The twin blasts in Tentena are evidence that our police,
intelligence and military forces are not winning the war against
terrorists operating in the archipelago. Some victories have been
achieved since 2002, but the loss of a single life is one loss
too many.
The damage of this latest attack goes beyond the devastated
families and the grief of a nation. After doing wonders to
improve international perceptions of Indonesia by hosting several
high-profile summits and meetings, the Tentena bombings undid all
of the government's good work.
The terrorist attacks that occur here with regularity are
proof that public resolve alone is insufficient to repel strikes
against innocent civilians. Without the cooperation of all state
institutions -- independent of political interests -- and a
degree of technical competence, all efforts will fall short of
satisfactory.
An overhaul of the intelligence institution may be necessary,
putting special emphasis on ensuring civil security. Our security
apparatus is infamous for the ability to intimidate political and
human rights activists. Its now time for security personnel to
frighten terrorists.
While we fully support a revamp of the security and
intelligence units, we are also somewhat fearful of exactly what
steps the state might take. Historically, "security, stability
and order" have been used as excuses to introduce draconian
measures.
The protection of one right has often led to the abuse of
other, even more fundamental rights; the cure is often more
harmful than the disease.
The fight against terrorism can and should be conducted
without turning Indonesia into a police state. Freedom of
expression, movement, due process and respect for individual
liberties must be honored.
Being vigilant does not mean giving up our libertarian values,
the presumption of innocence and the humane treatment of those
being investigated.
To do so would be to succumb to the dark forces the country is
battling. The only thing worse than enduring a terrorist bombing
would be to tolerate state-sponsored terrorism.
The terrorists are not winning hearts or minds with their
despicable actions. We can also assure President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono that neither will he win votes if his antiterrorist
drive turns into the strong-arming of democratic rights.
The bombings in Tentena occurred because cracks remain in our
security blanket, not because people have too much freedom.
Conversely, it is with respect for rights and freedoms -- not
guns and bullets -- that terrorism ultimately will be defeated.
It was another black day for Indonesia as families and friends on
Monday buried victims of Saturday's bombings in Tentena, Central
Sulawesi.
Feelings of sorrow and anger have again been stirred. Our
condemnation is beyond expression.
However, more than ever our grief is fueled by increasing
frustration. More terrorist attacks in an area with a long
history of violence, and during a period of raised alert levels,
confirms the growing suspicion that the country's security
apparatus is sadly incompetent.
Fighting a cowardly enemy that has no tangible shape is a
formidable task, especially in a country the size of Indonesia
that is at the same time undergoing seismic social changes. It is
too simple to lay all the blame on the security forces. But
neither should they evade responsibility.
Accountability should come from the top. It is bewildering how
anyone can insist on staying on as the National Police chief, for
example, after having failed to protect innocent citizens from a
series of major terrorist attacks that have claimed hundreds of
lives.
While a number of suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2003
J.W. Marriott terrorist attack and the 2004 explosion in
Kuningan, South Jakarta, have been apprehended, it cannot be
ignored that all of these attacks occurred under the watch of the
same chief of police.
Clearly, the time has come to say that National Police chief
Gen. Da'i Bachtiar must go.
The twin blasts in Tentena are evidence that our police,
intelligence and military forces are not winning the war against
terrorists operating in the archipelago. Some victories have been
achieved since 2002, but the loss of a single life is one loss
too many.
The damage of this latest attack goes beyond the devastated
families and the grief of a nation. After doing wonders to
improve international perceptions of Indonesia by hosting several
high-profile summits and meetings, the Tentena bombings undid all
of the government's good work.
The terrorist attacks that occur here with regularity are
proof that public resolve alone is insufficient to repel strikes
against innocent civilians. Without the cooperation of all state
institutions -- independent of political interests -- and a
degree of technical competence, all efforts will fall short of
satisfactory.
An overhaul of the intelligence institution may be necessary,
putting special emphasis on ensuring civil security. Our security
apparatus is infamous for the ability to intimidate political and
human rights activists. Its now time for security personnel to
frighten terrorists.
While we fully support a revamp of the security and
intelligence units, we are also somewhat fearful of exactly what
steps the state might take. Historically, "security, stability
and order" have been used as excuses to introduce draconian
measures.
The protection of one right has often led to the abuse of
other, even more fundamental rights; the cure is often more
harmful than the disease.
The fight against terrorism can and should be conducted
without turning Indonesia into a police state. Freedom of
expression, movement, due process and respect for individual
liberties must be honored.
Being vigilant does not mean giving up our libertarian values,
the presumption of innocence and the humane treatment of those
being investigated.
To do so would be to succumb to the dark forces the country is
battling. The only thing worse than enduring a terrorist bombing
would be to tolerate state-sponsored terrorism.
The terrorists are not winning hearts or minds with their
despicable actions. We can also assure President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono that neither will he win votes if his antiterrorist
drive turns into the strong-arming of democratic rights.
The bombings in Tentena occurred because cracks remain in our
security blanket, not because people have too much freedom.
Conversely, it is with respect for rights and freedoms -- not
guns and bullets -- that terrorism ultimately will be defeated.