`I think police only protect the wealthy'

`I think police only protect the wealthy'

The police have a massive public relations problem. People just
don't seem to like them. Police officers are generally seen as
fat, lazy and corrupt, spending most their time backing criminal
syndicates involved in drug trafficking, gambling and
prostitution rather than protecting and serving the man on the
street. The Jakarta Post asked several people their opinion of
the National Police, which celebrates its 47th anniversary on
Tuesday.

Mami, not her real name, 29, works at a company in South
Jakarta. She lives in Cawang, East Jakarta, with her family:

To tell you the truth, the police scare me. My heart beats
faster whenever I see a police officer.

They remind me of a nightmare years ago, when one of my
relatives was arrested for drug abuse.

I tried hard to get him released because there lots of other
suspects in similar cases managed to avoid jail.

A police officer recommended that I meet with a fellow officer
to reach a deal for the release of my relative.

The policeman then demanded Rp 5 million, but I bargained and
eventually made a deal to pay him only Rp 2 million.

However, nothing happened in the case. My relative was even
put in detention for "intensive" interrogation.

Then I found out that it was futile to pay the officer any
money. My request for a release was ignored. When I asked for my
money back, the policeman said half of the money had been spent
on the release process. He only gave me back Rp 1 million.

From then on, I think of police officers as only being
corrupt. They play a role in the drug trade and get a lot of
money from drug cases.

Needless to say, they extort money from the families of
suspects in many other cases.

I am pretty sure the image of the police will never improve
because most of them are involved in bribery and extortion.

Berto, not his real name, 32, is a reformed thug. He now works
at a company in Tomang, West Jakarta. He lives nearby with his
wife and daughter:

I don't dare judge the performance of the police now. But for
sure, their image in the past has been very bad.

Well, to some extent their image has improved slightly. But it
depends on the case.

They might only protect certain groups of rich people or
"respectable" figures. When I worked as a debt collector, they
gave me a lot of help because my boss paid them well.

I don't think residents feel safe with all the crime in the
city now.

Jakartans have identified numerous places across the city
where lots of street crimes take place. But the police don't seem
to take it seriously, and the criminals are still free to operate
in these areas.

When I was a bad guy, I knew there were lots of police
officers using drugs and backing the dealers. Maybe they still do
that, but I don't know.

In a way, I can understand this considering how little they
are paid. They have to make money other ways.

But I won't deal with the police anymore because I was
traumatized when they arrested and tortured me for murdering a
military officer.

Dian works at a company in Salemba, Central Jakarta. She lives
in Kampung Ambon, East Jakarta, with her husband and daughter:

I don't think the police have improved in their performance
since they were separated from the Indonesian Military.

They have only improved in terms of their physical appearance.
Their new uniforms, new patrol cars and new police posts are
visible enhancements.

However, in terms of mentality, there has been no change in
the police and they are still up to their old mischief.

They back drug trafficking, gambling dens and prominent
criminals. Some officers even buy stolen goods like motorcycles.

And they don't protect the public. They don't do anything
about areas in the city where there is lots of crime.

The police often let street crimes go, putting the lives of
the people in danger, as is the case at many intersections in
East Jakarta.

-- Leo Wahyudi S