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