Sutanto vows to be impartial<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Newly installed National Police chief Gen. Sutanto pledged to
\nturn the force into an independent institution, despite his close
\nties to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
During the handover ceremony held on Saturday at the Mobile
\nBrigade (Brimob) Headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, Sutanto
\nwarned police officers against becoming involved in political
\nactivities or working for political parties.<\/p>\n
Every officer has a right to take an interest in politics as
\npart of democracy, but that does not mean that they are permitted
\nto become directly involved in political activities, he stressed.<\/p>\n
"The police force needs to seek the best form of public
\ncontrol to ensure its independence," Sutanto said, adding that
\nthe police had to willingly work together with whoever was
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Sutanto's appointment as police chief had been touted by close
\naides of Susilo since the latter took office in October last
\nyear. The two were the outstanding graduates of the Military
\nAcademy in their respective fields in 1973.<\/p>\n
Sutanto was promoted to the rank of commissioner general in
\nFebruary, when he took command of the National Narcotics Agency,
\na post which he held for less then five months.<\/p>\n
During his speech on Saturday, Sutanto said the change of
\nleadership, which took place close to the force's anniversary,
\nmarked a new beginning for the internal reform process as part of
\nthe effort to improve the force's capabilities, professionalism
\nand independence.<\/p>\n
"The police must not take sides in the performance of their
\nduties," Sutanto said.<\/p>\n
Article 28 of the National Police Law (No. 2\/2002) says the
\npolice are prohibited from engaging in political activities.<\/p>\n
In one case that took place during the term of Sutanto's
\npredecessor, Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, an officer was assigned a desk
\njob by the police disciplinary council for openly supporting
\npresidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was also the
\nincumbent at the time.<\/p>\n
Banyumas Police chief Sr. Comr. Andi Mapparessa was found
\nguilty of partiality, but no charges were laid against him under
\nthe electoral legislation.<\/p>\n
Apart from urging police officers to improve their
\nindependence, Sutanto also warned them against taking the law
\ninto their own hands.<\/p>\n
"The police only enforce, not create, the law, and must
\nperform their duties in line with the legislation," he said.<\/p>\n
He asked the police force to reform its behavior, ethics and
\nculture in order to provide better services to the public.<\/p>\n
"To achieve these goals, we should start with changes inside
\nthe institution. Every police officer should understand that he
\nor she is responsible for providing services to the public,"
\nSutanto said.<\/p>\n
Susilo has asked Sutanto, who rose to prominence due to his
\nperceived tough stance against gambling, to focus on corruption
\neradication, fuel smuggling, illegal logging and drug
\ntrafficking.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutanto-vows-to-be-impartial-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}