'Police still have lot of homework to do'<\/p>\n
To mark the National Police's 58th anniversary on July 1, legal
\nexperts have highlighted the force's failure to meet the people's
\nexpectations when dealing with big corruption cases. Many police
\nsuspects have been allowed to walk free, some have evaded
\ninvestigations and the police cannot explain why. The Jakarta
\nPost asked some Jakartans for their views on the police.<\/p>\n
Christoforus, 26, is a freelance software developer. He lives
\nwith a relative on Jl. Bangka, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Any anniversary, especially that of a state institution like
\nthe police, should always be marked by an ongoing improvement of
\nthe institution and related agencies.<\/p>\n
I think the police still have a lot to do in eradicating the
\nrampant corruption within the force and improving their law
\nenforcement procedures.<\/p>\n
Just recently, I found I could still acquire a drivers license
\nwithout all the usual procedures and bureaucracy, as long as I
\npaid a handsome sum of money to officers in the traffic police
\ndepartment.<\/p>\n
The police sometimes have a half-hearted approach to enforcing
\nthe law. They strictly prosecute offenders when a law is still
\nnew or is under public scrutiny, but then loosen their control
\nwhen it isn't. So how can we ever expect a functioning rule of
\nlaw?<\/p>\n
They are also reluctant to stop crimes of gambling,
\nprostitution or the sale of pirated products when they know these
\nactivities are being backed by other police officers. We have a
\njoke for that, you know, likening the police to wolves that won't
\nprey on their own kin.<\/p>\n
But I'm still hoping the police will improve in a year or so,
\nthough I hope it would be sooner.<\/p>\n
Asep Saefulah, 41, a taxi driver. He lives with his family in
\nPondok Gede, East Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I congratulate the police for improving their service to
\npublic. At least, I don't have to pay a fortune just to renew my
\ndriving license in a short time. Of course there are still
\nunscrupulous officers around but at least the top men in the
\nforce are among the few good men.<\/p>\n
I hope in future the police only work to protect and serve us,
\nthat no one is above the law. Some people are still having bad
\nexperiences with the police -- they have to spend a lot of money
\njust to make sure the police will look into their problem.
\nThere's a saying that describes how the police work: To find a
\nlost sheep will cost you a cow.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-still-have-lot-of-homework-to-do-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }