Police should maintain stability: Adm. Widodo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo
\nA.S. has underlined the primacy of the role of the National
\nPolice in law enforcement, stressing that the military should
\nfocus primarily on national defense.<\/p>\n
\"The National Police must assume the main role as the backbone
\nand cornerstone of law enforcement in maintaining stability and
\ncreating a sense of safety among the people,\" he said at a post-
\nIdul Fitri gathering with members of the House of
\nRepresentatives's Commission I on defense and security here on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
He barred the military from delving into the police's area of
\nresponsibility, contending they should only serve as additional
\nreinforcements for police in emergencies.<\/p>\n
Also present at Sunday's informal gathering were Army chief
\nGen. Tyasno Sudarto, Navy chief Adm. Sutjipto, Air Force deputy
\nchief Vice Marshal I Gde Sudana, National Police chief Lt. Gen.
\nRusdihardjo and TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Suaidy
\nMarasabessy.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is now time for all sides, including the military,
\nto entrust the National Police to deal wholly with law
\nenforcement matters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Prior to its separation from the Armed Forces, the police were
\nconsidered subordinate to the military, particularly the Army, in
\nmany aspects, including in the functioning of its daily duties.<\/p>\n
The military was considered to have a strong say in various
\nlegal and local matters, particularly through the wide-reaching
\ninfluence of regional military commands and the presence of
\nsoldiers in rural areas.<\/p>\n
\"Besides taking strict action against law breakers, the
\nNational Police should be able to thoroughly investigate
\nsectarian violence. Society is now challenging them to repair
\ntheir image as law enforcers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Rusdihardjo hailed Widodo's comments and
\npledged to make significant progress in law enforcement within
\nthe next three months.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the police were in need of moral and
\npolitical support to carry out this mission.<\/p>\n
Rusdihardjo, who only recently took over the police's top job
\nfrom Gen. Roesmanhadi, expressed his appreciation for the
\nconfidence and trust shown by the military chief.<\/p>\n
\"We will work hard and consolidate internally to develop our
\nimage,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Budget<\/p>\n
Rusdihardjo also called on members of the House and the
\ngovernment to give their full support to the proposed increase in
\nthe police's budget to enable it to recruit new personnel and
\nimprove its performance in the future.<\/p>\n
\"The police's present budget is very low and it is running
\nshort of personnel to carry out its numerous tasks nationwide,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"The present number of police personnel is only around
\n225,000. This figure is very small compared to the country's size
\nand population,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The current ratio between police personnel and the population
\nis 1:1,200. Rusdihardjo said the ideal ratio was 1:400.<\/p>\n
The draft 2000 budget submitted by the government last week
\nincluded a subsection for the allocation of the police's budget.<\/p>\n
Rp 2.65 trillion was allocated for routine expenditure for the
\nnine-month period covered by the budget. While for development
\nspending, which usually denotes logistic and equipment
\nprocurement, Rp 127 billion.<\/p>\n
By comparison, the military was allotted Rp 5.4 trillion for
\nits routine expenditure and Rp 415.4 billion for development
\nspending.<\/p>\n
Rusdihardjo stressed that increases in police salaries and
\nwelfare would go a long way in motivating officers to enhance
\ntheir performances.<\/p>\n
\"From a psychological view, it will be difficult for us to
\norder our personnel to work hard if their minimum physical needs
\ncannot be met (by their salaries),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The government and the House, which are deliberating the
\nstate budget draft, should pay more attention to this matter,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung signaled the House's support for
\nthe police's budget.<\/p>\n
\"If objective conditions indicate the police's budget should
\nbe raised, the House will give its endorsement,\" said Akbar
\nduring a separate gathering here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said the House would also support the military's internal
\nreform that would see it return it to its defense function while
\nthe police handle law enforcement. (rms)<\/p>",
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