Police to change caps to mark separation from ABRI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police across the country have been ordered to
\nwear the force's old service caps on Thursday to mark the
\nseparation of the National Police from the Armed Forces (ABRI), a
\nsenior officer said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Saleh Saaf of the National Police public information
\nunit said the dark brown visored caps, bearing the National
\nPolice Tribrata emblem, would be used by all personnel to replace
\nthe various types of caps currently in use by different police
\nunits.<\/p>\n
\"It's actually our old police uniform. So not all police
\npersonnel will be able to change their caps, as many of them
\nmight not have one,\" Saleh told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
To mark the separation from ABRI after 33 years, police
\nnationwide have also been ordered to dress in their uniform
\nshirts, embroidered with the letters \"Polri\" (the abbreviation
\nfor Indonesian National Police) on the collars.<\/p>\n
According to a tentative schedule, ABRI Commander\/Minister of
\nDefense and Security Gen. Wiranto will officially announce the
\npolice's separation from ABRI in a special ceremony at 8 a.m. on
\nThursday at ABRI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Officer Saleh said the small alterations to the appearance of
\npolice personnel reflected the force's scarcity of funds. Further
\nchanges, including the use of a new ranking system, are to be
\ncarried out in phases.<\/p>\n
\"We are not using new uniforms immediately as it will take
\ntime, and there are not yet any funds for that,\" Saleh said.<\/p>\n
According to Saleh, many in the force hoped the curriculum of
\npolice schools and academies would also eventually be revised.<\/p>\n
\"The separation and all factors attached to the separation,
\nincluding the revision of curriculum .. and advanced education,
\ncan't happen overnight,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Saleh said that, above all, the separation was expected to
\nchange the police mentality.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing in the separation is our mentality,\"
\nhe said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
The separation was hinted by Wiranto last year, after many
\nyears of public longing.<\/p>\n
Under the current system, ABRI incorporates the police as well
\nas the Army, Navy and Air Force.<\/p>\n
The police have found themselves on the receiving end of
\nincreasingly strong criticism, particularly over their handling
\nof public unrest and rioting. Police have often been involved in
\nclashes and conflicts with civilian protesters.<\/p>\n
The two responsibilities of the police force, that of owing
\nallegiance to ABRI and serving the public, are thought by some
\nobservers to be a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
\"Public often complain about our services in handling their
\nreports. Many say police are abusing their powers over civilians
\nwho seek their help.<\/p>\n
I understand why this happens. We're trained under the
\nmilitary education system but later, after graduation, we have to
\ndeal with civilians,\" said a police officer, who did not want to
\nbe identified.<\/p>\n
The officer also expressed his dissatisfaction over the way
\npolice handle protesters according to their military background.<\/p>\n
\"They're not our enemy, we're not supposed to attack them,\" he
\nsaid. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-to-change-caps-to-mark-separation-from-abri-1447893297",
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