Demilitarize the police

Demilitarize the police

From Rakyat Merdeka

The People's Consultative Assembly has introduced three amendments to the 1945 Constitution. In the second amendment, the National Police, as demanded by the reform movement, is given a clearer definition about their status, functions, duties and roles.

Unfortunately, even in this second amendment, the Assembly has not properly accommodated the popular wish that the police be freed from all military attributes.

In this context, therefore, Polwatch, an institution established to monitor the performance of the National Police, would like to convey the following to the Assembly: * Ensure that military jargon is not used for the police. * Ensure that the chapter on security is separated from the chapter on defense, to prevent the police and the military from co-opting each other. * Ensure that special articles be included in the amendment on the definition of working coordination in the implementation of security and social order by relevant parties, in the spirit of regional autonomy. * Ensure that there are articles allowing social organizations to exercise control over the police.

ADNAN PANDUPRAJA

Jakarta