(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.