East Java Police chief focuses on improvements
East Java Police chief focuses on improvements
JAKARTA (JP): East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Moech Dayat
said yesterday he had been making every effort to improve his
force, including convening a military tribunal against 42 police
officers suspected of serious violations.
"We've taken stern measures against 321 police officers and 42
of them are being court-martialled," he said during a dialog with
ethnic Chinese residents in Surabaya, East Java.
He said efforts were being made to upgrade both the mentality
and the professionalism of the police force and that disciplinary
action was being taken against those found to be violating
procedures.
"But it all has to be done slowly and continuously. Slowly but
surely we'll enhance the quality (of the police force)."
The dialog's participants readily expressed their grievances
to the provincial police chief.
"We've had so many traumatic experiences dealing with the
police," one participant, Hariatma, was quoted as saying by
Antara during the discussion.
"Every time we try to take care of various documents with the
police they always make it difficult. But if you give them Rp
100,000 it goes very smoothly and they'll even deliver the
documents to your house," Hariatma remarked.
Autonomy
Legal experts and observers in Semarang, Central Java, joined
the chorus of calls to separate the police force from the Armed
Forces' (ABRI) hierarchical structure.
Former national police chief (ret.) Gen. Awaloeddin Djamin
told participants at a discussion on police reform at Diponegoro
University that police should be given operational and
territorial autonomy to allow them to become more creative and
innovative.
Such a move, he said, would enhance the police force's
effectiveness in handling criminal cases and improve their work
ethic.
If police could perform according to public expectations, they
would find themselves closer and more appreciated by the people,
he said.
The National Police force is currently an arm of the Armed
Forces, along with the Army, Navy and Air Force, and is under the
command of the Armed Forces chief.
Legal expert Satjipto Rahardjo pointed out that it was
difficult for the police to work under the Armed Forces given a
fundamental difference in doctrines.
He explained that the police should adhere to the principle of
serving and protecting the public while the Armed Forces must
focus on national defense.
Given these fundamental differences, the police should be
given greater autonomy, he argued.
"I don't know what the benefit is of keeping the police under
ABRI. But I can tell you that we will eventually face ruin if it
is kept that way." (har/ivy)