Police still lack professionalism: Chief JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro said yesterday that the police still need to improve their professionalism before they can properly serve the public. Speaking at a press conference, the four-star general said that, in view of financial problems, he could not yet say when the nation would have an effective, efficient and professional police force.

Political openness not yet real: Observers JAKARTA (JP): Several political observers lashed out at the government yesterday for its feeble attempts at democratization and political openness, saying it has failed to follow up words with deeds. Eros Djarot, former chief editor of the DeTik weekly banned last year, and Marzuki Darusman, member of the National Commission on Human Rights, took a critical stance in a discussion on political openness and the globalization of information yesterday.