Police commission urgently needed to curb abuses: Expert<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A police expert urged the government on Saturday to establish the
\nplanned National Police Commission (KKN) immediately to allow the
\npublic at large to have a say in the work of the police and thus
\nminimize abuses by police personnel.<\/p>\n
Jusuf, an expert adviser to the National Resilience Institute
\n(Lemhanas)'s governor Ermaya Suradinata, said that to date now
\nthe public had no way of monitoring the performance of the
\npolice, which resulted in unchecked violations and abuses.<\/p>\n
"Police officers are civilians in uniforms. Therefore, if they
\nviolate the law, they must be punished according to the
\nprevailing rules," Jusuf said in his doctoral dissertation titled
\n"Detection and Investigation: A Study on the Interpretation and
\nApplication of Investigative Procedures in Criminal Cases."<\/p>\n
With his dissertation, which was awarded a cum laude citation,
\nJusuf became the first Indonesian to earn a doctoral degree in
\npolice science studies at the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Law No. 2\/2002 on the police calls for the establishment of an
\nindependent commission whose tasks would include making
\nrecommendations on police promotions and transfers, and receiving
\ncomplaints from the public about the performance of police
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
However, the commission has not yet been established even
\nthough the legislation was enacted two years ago.<\/p>\n
Jusuf pointed out that the commission would at least minimize
\nthe number of human rights violations perpetrated by the police,
\nand incidents such as the recent Bojong case when officers
\nattacked residents who were protesting against the testing of a
\nnew waster processing facility.<\/p>\n
Detectives, according to Jusuf, have different understandings
\nand definitions regarding the handling of criminal cases,
\ninvestigative procedures, the law, police bureaucracy and their
\nsocial environment.<\/p>\n
In his thesis, Jusuf also brought up current issues such as
\nrampant corruption in the police and the excessive use of force
\nby officers.<\/p>\n
He pointed to two elements -- low wages and lack of benefits
\nand facilities -- that helped implant corruption among police
\nofficers. He urged the government to resolve these problems.<\/p>\n
"To eradicate corruption among police officers, the government
\nshould help by increasing the salaries of officers so as to avoid
\nthem being tempted to take bribes," Jusuf said.<\/p>\n
However, police too had work to do if reform was to be
\npossible.<\/p>\n
"It will take a commitment from each police officer to the
\nconcept that his duty is to serve and to protect the public.<\/p>\n
"Right now, there are many younger police officers who have
\nmaster's degrees or doctorates who will hopefully pay more
\nattention to the importance of the public than the police
\ninstitution itself," Jusuf said.<\/p>\n
Deputy National Police chief Adang Dorodjatun said that he was
\nimpressed with the advice given to the police by Jusuf in his
\nstudy.<\/p>\n
"I think this is positive advice that we must take on board.
\nIt will help the police institute reform and be better able to
\nserve the public," Adang said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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