Analyst: Brimob should focus on handling high-risk situations

Jakarta – A police analyst from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISSES), Bambang Rukminto, has stated that the Brimob unit should be focused on handling high-risk situations rather than routine security operations.

Bambang responded to mounting calls for Brimob to be withdrawn from civilian security following the recent assault and death of a teenager allegedly committed by Brimob personnel in Tual, Maluku.

“In my view, the solution is not to completely withdraw Brimob from civilian security, but to clearly reposition its role. Brimob should be focused on handling high-risk situations, such as armed conflict, terrorism, or major civil unrest, not routine community security,” he said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to Bambang, the repeated instances of violence by Brimob personnel should be understood as an important signal to limit the use of force in field operations.

“Cases of alleged violence involving Brimob personnel certainly wound the public and serve as a serious warning to the Indonesian National Police (Polri). Public criticism of Brimob’s role in civilian security should be viewed as a signal that there is a problem with the limits on force use and field practices,” he said.

To increase public confidence, steps that Polri can take at present include evaluating Brimob’s involvement in civilian security.

“At present, the most urgent step is to process the case transparently, evaluate Brimob’s involvement in civilian security, and strengthen accountability,” he said.

Polri was urged to improve the doctrine on force use, educational curriculum, and more humanistic training that is mindful of human rights.

“As well as transparent law enforcement against members who violate regulations,” he added.

Polri stated it would conduct an evaluation following calls from the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) to withdraw the Brimob unit from its civilian security role, following the incident in which a Brimob member allegedly assaulted a child fatally.

“It is true that there are weaknesses, we acknowledge this. These are individual-level actions. We are currently conducting an evaluation to strengthen our practices,” said Irjen Police Johnny Eddizon Isir, Head of Polri’s Public Relations Division, at the Polri Public Relations Division office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He stated that Polri was grateful for and appreciated all input and criticism provided by the public, which would serve as material for future improvements.

However, he noted that the involvement of Brimob members in territorial police units, particularly in eastern Indonesia, remained very helpful to regional police commands and local police stations.