Police reforms should begin in earnest now: Retired generals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Following the formal separation of police from
\nthe Armed Forces, former senior police officers said the work was
\nonly just beginning to gain true independence for the police and
\nreeducate the force's personnel.<\/p>\n
Gen. (ret) Awaloeddin Djamin: the former National Police chief
\nsaid he has long been an advocate of an independent police force,
\nas a result, the force was seen to have a greater amount of
\nautonomy during his five-year tenure from 1978 to 1982.<\/p>\n
"I think the police force deserves to be treated fairly. It
\nneeds greater autonomy to increase its professionalism."<\/p>\n
He said it was high time for police, who are supposed to be
\nthe country's pillars of law enforcement, to show the public they
\ncan be fairer and more effective in upholding justice.<\/p>\n
Awaloeddin said the police force could now develop its own
\npolicies, while still coordinating with other Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nelements to safeguard the nation.<\/p>\n
"It's a new era. Police have to learn from scratch how to know
\ntheir own strength and stand straight, without any interference,
\namong the other security elements," he said, after a ceremony
\nmarking the separation of police from ABRI at National Police
\nHeadquarters.<\/p>\n
In serving the public, Awaloeddin reminded the police force to
\nreform its appearance to be more "friendly and not like ABRI".<\/p>\n
Gen. (ret) M. Sanusi: Awaloeddin's successor, Gen. (ret) M.
\nSanusi said appearance changes were needed, but reforms of the
\nforce's official attitude and philosophy, based on the Tribrata
\ndoctrine, were most needed.<\/p>\n
The three-point doctrine among others says police should be
\nmodels of dedication to the state, and are obliged to ensure
\npublic order. Police are also told their duty includes
\n"eliminating enemies of the state and society".<\/p>\n
"I know it is not easy to interpret the Tribrata teachings now
\nthat police are separate from ABRI," Sanusi said. The principle
\nof serving the public needs to be repeatedly pushed to police of
\nall ranks, he said.<\/p>\n
He said it may take two or three years before police can be
\ntruly independent.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. (ret) Koesparmono Irsan, a former police officer: He
\nsuggests that the police force should first go through a thorough
\nintrospection process to discover strong points and weaknesses
\nthat need to be improved.<\/p>\n
"With the current reform era, I think police can see that they
\nare not too late to totally reform their reputation ... (in)
\npublic service."<\/p>\n
Being responsive to public reports and fairer in treating
\npeople would be the key to win people's hearts, he said.<\/p>\n
"We all have been occupied by scenes of riots in which police
\nact like combat troops, beating and torturing unarmed people."
\nPolice need to "acknowledge the misleading images and prepare
\nbetter images ahead," he said.<\/p>\n
History<\/p>\n
The National Police has not always been a part of the Armed
\nForces. On July 1, 1946, the police, then under the supervision
\nof the Ministry of Home Affairs, was handed over to the prime
\nminister.<\/p>\n
That date became National Police Day.<\/p>\n
In 1949, the police were placed under the supervision of the
\nMinister of Defense to prepare for the transfer of sovereignty
\nfrom the Dutch.<\/p>\n
The prime minister regained control in 1950, after Indonesia
\nbroke its agreement with the Dutch to establish a federal state
\nin the archipelago.<\/p>\n
Integration into the military began with the first Police Law,
\nenacted in 1961. It was the result of historical ties between the
\npolice and the Armed Forces built up during the fight against
\nDutch colonialism.<\/p>\n
However, the law stated that police were not a military
\nforce. It obliged police to carry out law enforcement as a
\ncivilian institution and entitled them the same treatment as
\ncivil servants in terms of career planning and salaries.<\/p>\n
Former police chiefs have said police were integrated into the
\nArmed Forces in 1961 for practical reasons, particularly because
\nthe police were armed.<\/p>\n
They also said the Armed Forces maintained its control over
\nthe police under the New Order government because of fears that
\ncommunists would attempt to separate the forces. (emf)<\/p>",
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