Forensic work still weak

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs Soesilo Soedarman has expressed concern about the current unsatisfactory state of the forensic sciences required to support the judicial process.

In a speech at the inauguration of the Indonesian Forensic Association over the weekend, Soesilo said that the unsatisfactory state of affairs is due to the absence of means of communication and exchange of information between forensic scientists and their institutions.

The minister hailed the idea of establishing the association, saying it bode well for enlarging the role of forensic science experts in providing strong evidence for the courts.

Soesilo himself is the patron of the association, while members of the advisory board include the ministers of health, defense and security, education and culture and the state minister for research and technology.

National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro is chairman of the association, while head of the national police forensic laboratory center, Brig. Gen. Untung Haryono, has been appointed the day-to-day chairman. (bsr)