National Police separates from defense ministry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid officially announced
\non Saturday a separation of the National Police from the Ministry
\nof Defense and a plan to put the police corps under his direct
\nsupervision from Jan. 1, 2001.<\/p>\n
\"In the meantime, we are discussing whether the National
\nPolice will be a national institution which has a certain chain
\nof command system or be regulated through the 1999 Regional
\nAutonomy Law,\" Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, said while
\naddressing a ceremony of the corps' 54th anniversary, held at the
\nNational Police Ceremony Field in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Minister of Defense
\nJuwono Soedarsono and National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo
\naccompanied Abdurrahman in the main field tribute during the
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
A few meters to the left of the main tribute, a number of
\nhigh-ranking military officers joined the procession, including
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and Army Chief
\nof Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto.<\/p>\n
The President, however, did not disclose further whether the
\npolice corps would have a provincial chain of command system,
\nshould the police's presence be regulated under the autonomy law.<\/p>\n
Minister Juwono said recently that the police force, which was
\nput under the ministry's supervision in April last year, would
\nfully come under the control of the President in January 2001.<\/p>\n
The minister told reporters following a Cabinet meeting last
\nWednesday that before January 2001, the police's function and
\nstatus would be regulated in a presidential decree.<\/p>\n
Juwono said on Saturday that the ministry, the National Police
\nand the Ministry of Law and Legislation were now preparing a
\ndraft law to lay the foundation for the separation in 2001.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, the law can be completed within the year,\" he told
\nreporters after the ceremony.<\/p>\n
In his address, the President also expressed hope that the law
\ncould help eliminate militaristic traditions inherited by TNI.<\/p>\n
\"I am following the progress report of the discussion on the
\npolice's presence with mixed feelings. Some military-style
\ntraditions are good and should be preserved by the police.<\/p>\n
\"But I am also scared that if such traditions are maintained,
\nthey will create militarism. While at the same time, the
\nmilitaristic traditions must be scrapped,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President said that militarism no longer existed in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"In political terms, militarism does not exist in the country
\nanymore. What still exists is professionalism within the
\nIndonesia Military,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President expected the people could understand that the
\npolice force needed time to eliminate militaristic traditions
\ninherited from the Indonesian Military.<\/p>\n
\"The installment of official insignia may be considered a
\nmilitaristic tradition. But it is still maintained as it is an
\nhonor to their (police personnel) services,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the ceremony, Megawati symbolically granted service honors
\nto 784 police personnel, represented by Brig. Gen. I Made Mangku
\nPastika, secretary of Indonesia's NCB-Interpol.<\/p>\n
The awards were made to police personnel who have served the
\ncorps for over 24 years.<\/p>\n
The President also said in his speech that the police must
\nremain focused on their basic duties, instead of concentrating on
\npreparations for a full separation from TNI.<\/p>\n
\"The duties of the police force are to keep the sovereignty of
\nlaw and to maintain security and order in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Once those tasks are completed, all other duties can be
\ncarried out automatically,\" the President said without
\nelaborating. (asa)<\/p>",
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