Experts dissatisfied with police internal reform
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite its achievements in the fight against terrorism, the National Police remain unable to meet its internal reform demand of providing security and public services, experts concluded on Wednesday.
The reform movement, they said, has not helped the National Police improve its poor image.
In a national seminar hosted by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and the National Police, most speakers hailed the police's achievements, but criticized the lack of change in the behavior of officers.
"Unfortunately, police reform has not lived up to expectations," LIPI researcher Indria Samego said.
Indria said people could see the institutional and structural reforms contained in the law on the National Police, which is now being deliberated, and the restructuring now taking place within the police organization.
However, Indria said, people need more. They want to see the police change its behavior in order to repair its tarnishing image.
He added that it was difficult to imagine the police reforming its culture while other law enforcement institutions, including judges and prosecutors, continued with their "dirty" behavior.
"It won't do any good if the police try to become angels while other law enforcers maintain their ties with evil," he said.
Political analyst Syamsuddin Haris said that to restore its image and improve its professionalism, the police should be fair in handling all cases, while at the same time building a synergy with the Indonesian Military and governments officials.
Earlier, keynote speaker National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said he wanted to turn the police into a force that served and protected the people.
Da'i said that ideally there should be one police officer for every 300 residents, but currently there was only one for every 1,000 in the country.
In the meantime, instead of expanding the number of personnel, the police were prioritizing enhancing their mobilization and communication, he said.
He said he was pleased by the police's institutional and structural reform, but admitted that a lot of work needed to be done.
The seminar on Wednesday also was attended by Taufik Abdullah, Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, Ichlasul Amal, Tjuk Sugiarso, Indria Samego, Tubagus Rono Nitibaskara, Syamsuddin Haris, Reydonny Zar Moenek, J. Kristiadi and Ansyaad Mbai, as well as numerous senior police officers.
Police reform has been going on for five years, during which time the experts noted that the police had achieved major accomplishments, including its handling of the Bali bombings, the murder of the director of Asaba and the armed robbery that claimed the life of the wife of the finance ministry secretary- general.