Police will take two years to 'become independent'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense\/Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto announced on Thursday that the police will
\nhave a two-year transition period to severe links from the
\nmilitary and develop into an independent force.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said it was \"highly possible\" that in time the police
\nwould be put under the command of the home affairs ministry as is
\nthe case in many foreign countries.<\/p>\n
\"It will depend on the People's Consultative Assembly to
\ndecide the National Police's (Polri) fate and then back it up
\nwith a law,\" he said after a ceremony to mark the separation of
\nthe 200,000-strong police force from the military at ABRI
\nheadquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
However Wiranto said Polri would not necessarily play the same
\nrole as in other countries due to social and political
\ndifferences.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said the two-year transition was not \"black-and-
\nwhite\", adding that the time frame might even be shorter.<\/p>\n
\"This separation is the first step of a long process. We
\ncannot make (these changes) radically and all at the same time.\"<\/p>\n
Following Thursday's ceremony, Polri came under the command of
\nthe defense and security ministry.<\/p>\n
The new ABRI incorporates the Army, Navy and Air Force.
\nWiranto has proposed to President B.J. Habibie that ABRI revert
\nto its earlier name Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian
\nNational Military).<\/p>\n
In his address to Polri and ABRI rank and file, Wiranto said
\nPolri must adopt less repressive measures and take on the role of
\nthe public's protector.<\/p>\n
He told the police that their new philosophy should be \"to
\nfight crimes, to love humanity and to protect the public\".<\/p>\n
Wiranto called on the public to help Polri during the
\ntransition as \"it won't be easy\" for police -- aligned with the
\nmilitary for over 30 years -- to change their behavior.<\/p>\n
\"Public input is called for, but please don't offer it by
\nhurling stones at them.\"<\/p>\n
Law enforcement<\/p>\n
An independent police force would significantly contribute to
\nimproved enforcement of the country's justice system, Wiranto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He conceded that law enforcement in the country was currently
\nat its lowest point. However, he urged members of the public not
\nto simply lay the blame on law enforcers.<\/p>\n
\"(That citizens) abide to laws is also important.\"<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi also acknowledged the
\npoor law enforcement performance, but cited the imbalanced ratio
\nbetween police and the public as a contributing factor.<\/p>\n
With 200,000 police, there is one police officer per 1,500
\npeople, far from the ideal ratio of one officer per 750
\ncivilians.<\/p>\n
Roesmanhadi said he would ask the government to extend the
\nretirement age of noncommissioned officers from 48 to 55. The
\npresent regulation restricts the retirement age of 55 only to
\nhigh-ranking officers.<\/p>\n
\"The more officers in service, the more skilled individuals we
\ncan employ,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Roesmanhadi said the extension would reduce the high budget
\nallocated for educational and training funds.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony Wiranto removed the force's former service
\ncaps from four police officers, replacing them with dark brown
\nvisored caps bearing the National Police Tribrata emblem. He then
\nplaced brown whistles on their left shoulders. He prompted
\nlaughter from the audience when he blew the whistle belonging to
\nFirst Lt. Purnomo Adi.<\/p>\n
Specialized police units comprising traffic police, detectives
\nand the Mobile Brigade will retain their former uniforms of white
\ncaps, red maroon berets and dark blue berets respectively.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib, Chief Justice Sarwata and
\nformer National Police chiefs Gen. (ret) Dibyo Widodo and Gen.
\n(ret) Awaloeddin Djamin attended the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Military top brass in attendance were ABRI Territorial chief
\nLt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ABRI chief of General Affairs
\nLt. Gen. Sugiono, Army chief Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, Navy chief
\nAdmiral Widodo AS, Air Force Commander Marshall Hanafie Asnan and
\nSecretary-General of the Ministry of Defense Lt. Gen. Fachrul
\nRazi.<\/p>\n
A few hours after the ceremony, Wiranto unveiled the National
\nPolice Headquarters board on Jl. Trunojoyo in South Jakarta. The
\nlarge board in front of police headquarters now reads Ministry of
\nDefense and Security instead of Indonesian Armed Forces. (aan\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-will-take-two-years-to-become-independent-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}