National Police must be decentralized: Expert<\/p>\n
Andi A. Mallarangeng, a political expert and proponent of the
\nregional autonomy drive, shares with The Jakarta Post's Ridwan M.
\nSijabat his thoughts on the need to \"decentralize\" the National
\nPolice.<\/p>\n
Question: What role should the National Police play in the
\nautonomy drive?<\/p>\n
Answer: The National Police should preserve its original
\nroles, namely order and security, enforcing the law, combating
\ncrime and regulating traffic. So, the police's main task is to
\nserve the public.<\/p>\n
However, the current crucial problem is not what the police's
\nduties are but how they should carry them out as effectively and
\nefficiently as possible so as to maintain public order and
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
In entering the autonomy era, the National Police must be
\ndecentralized, or at least deconcentrated, in order to improve
\ntheir accountability and service to the public. All police
\npersonnel must be decentralized to regencies under police
\ndistricts.<\/p>\n
A district police chief with his\/her officers must be
\nsubordinated to the regency administration concerned and be
\naccountable to its regent.<\/p>\n
Q: Why should the police be decentralized?<\/p>\n
A: Because all regions have their unique social problems and
\nlocals know better than the police do what their real problems in
\ntheir own regions are. So, with autonomy, (we should) let the
\npeople identify their social problems and set priorities as to
\nwhat the police in their region must do.<\/p>\n
For example, the Acehnese have demanded that their policewomen
\nwear the jilbab (Islamic headscarve), the Papuans want the police
\nto enforce the law and create a feeling of security among them...
\nOf course, the police in urban areas are being required to
\nconcentrate on combating terrorism, the widespread use of banned
\ndrugs and economic crimes.<\/p>\n
Q: Your comments on the recent bombings in a number of cities?<\/p>\n
A: As a member of the Indonesian Peace Forum (FID), I would
\nsuggest that the police, who are responsible for security and
\norder nationwide, investigate the incidents thoroughly and...
\ntake strict action against those who are directly and indirectly
\ninvolved in the bombings.<\/p>\n
The long and complicated line of command from the National
\nPolice chief to police districts and police stations in the areas
\nconcerned will likely obstruct a thorough investigation into the
\nincidents.<\/p>\n
The police would find it easier to investigate the bombings if
\nthe National Police were decentralized because police districts
\nwould then have to account to regents and regency legislative
\ncouncils.<\/p>\n
Q: What is wrong with the current centralized line of command in
\nthe National Police?<\/p>\n
A: The current long and complicated line of command has made the
\npolice ineffective and inefficient in carrying out their onerous
\nduties. Internal reform in the National Police organization will
\nnot be successful unless the force returns to its 1945 khittah
\n(raison d'etre) when it was subordinated into the home affairs
\nministry.<\/p>\n
The police in Malaysia, France, Italy and many other
\ndemocratic countries are subordinate to their home affairs
\nministries and the people in these countries respect their police
\nforces for their good work and public service.<\/p>\n
Q: What are the benefits of a decentralized police force?<\/p>\n
A: Police personnel will be grouped into police districts in
\nregencies and they must be loyal to regents. Their budget and
\nrecruitment system will be determined by the regency
\nadministrations and regency legislative councils concerned.
\nNational Police Headquarters will have the sole task of providing
\nan education and training system with a general curriculum for
\npolice cadets.<\/p>\n
In appointing a district police chief, a regency
\nadministration should advertise in the media to attract qualified
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
Candidates will be selected by regency legislative councils.
\nThe shortlisted candidates are then proposed to the regent for
\nhis consideration.<\/p>\n
Regions will have the authority to design the structure of
\ntheir police districts and to allocate the necessary budgets in
\naccordance with their social problems.<\/p>\n
Q: Is our police force ready for such a transformation?<\/p>\n
A: Like or not, it must be done some time in the future. However,
\nthe police could begin to become deconcentrated in the provinces
\nduring the current transition period.<\/p>\n
With such deconcentration, provincial police forces would be
\nsubordinated to governors and a governor would have the authority
\nto appoint the provincial police chief from among several
\ncandidates proposed by the National Police chief. These
\ncandidates would have to be approved by the provincial
\nlegislative council.<\/p>\n
It is now the time for people to freely determine what the
\npolice must do in order to maintain order and security and this
\nis a part of democracy.<\/p>\n
Q: What will happen to the military's territorial function?<\/p>\n
A: The Military Commands, Military Districts and Subdistricts and
\ntheir subordinate counterparts in the villages must be dissolved
\nin order to enable the police to carry out their security
\nfunction. The military should be involved in the security
\nfunction only in emergency situations.<\/p>\n
The police will not be able to perform their duties and
\ndemocracy will not develop if the presence of the military in the
\nregions is maintained.<\/p>",
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