Demanding Police Reform in the Tual Case

By: Dr. I Wayan Sudirta, S.H., M.H., member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the PDI-Perjuangan faction and Chairman of the UKI Doctoral Program Alumni Association. REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The death of a student (AT) in Tual, Maluku, some time ago has sparked various reactions from the public and legal observers. This case has become one of the issues that has once again tarnished the reputation of the Polri institution, particularly the Brimob, following last year’s demonstrations which also resulted in casualties. Several cases related to violence or misconduct by police officers have become a matter of public concern. Polri has always been the institution that attracts the most public attention. Commission III of the DPR has recorded several cases of violence involving police officers, not only in Tual, but also in Jakarta, West Sumatra, Central Sulawesi, Central Java, NTT, and other places. However, in several cases, especially those that have become public, the handling has always involved two channels: criminal and ethical. As a result, a number of Polri members have been implicated in criminal cases. In the case in Tual, the National Police Chief, General Drs. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, expressed his anger and disappointment over the incident in Tual, where a Brimob officer (MS) was allegedly involved in assaulting a student, resulting in the student’s death. The National Police Chief stated that the case has tarnished the reputation of the Brimob Corps and the Polri institution itself. The National Police Chief said that the Brimob Polri should be tasked with providing services and protecting the public. The National Police Chief has instructed the Chief of the Maluku Regional Police and the Head of the Professional and Internal Affairs Division (Propam) to thoroughly investigate the matter, both from a criminal and ethical perspective, with strict and severe measures to provide a sense of justice for the victim and their family.