Police become target of discontent<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The recent violent attacks against police
\nstations in many parts of the country reflected people's growing
\ndiscontent with authority, experts said yesterday.<\/p>\n
These attacks came from an accumulation of discontent, said
\nBambang Widjojanto, chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian
\nLegal Aid Institute.<\/p>\n
\"The police become the target because they work closely with
\nthe community,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Their contempt of police was fueled by negative news reports
\nabout police behavior, he added.<\/p>\n
Criminologist Mulyana W. Kusumah attributed the conflict to a
\nbreakdown in communication between police and the community they
\nserve.<\/p>\n
Mulyana expressed concern that police were now beefing up
\ntheir operational forces to quell disturbances but were
\nneglecting their communication ability. \"They should not neglect
\ntheir function to counsel the community,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The trend would likely continue after the recent endorsement
\nof the police bill by the House of Representatives. The proposed
\nlegislation gave police greater repressive power but said little
\nabout communication, he noted.<\/p>\n
Mulyana counted at least 12 cases of violent attacks against
\npolice stations since December.<\/p>\n
The latest occurred in August in Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi and
\nin Pameungpeuk, Garut, both in West Java.<\/p>\n
In Pameungpeuk, an angry crowd set fire to a police station
\nand ransacked a nearby police officer's residence. The attacks
\nwere sparked by rumors that the officer had killed a colleague.<\/p>\n
In Pelabuhan Ratu, a group burned down a police post, alleging
\npolice inefficiency in probing the death of a school teacher.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, relatives of 20 people who were arrested following
\nthe Pelabuhan Ratu raid gave power of attorney to the Jakarta
\nLegal Aid Institute.<\/p>\n
The suspects were being detained at four police stations in
\nSukabumi, the relatives said. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-become-target-of-discontent-1447893297",
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