IPW Supports Civil Coalition: Polri Reform is an Urgent Need!

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) supports the aspirations of the Civil Society Coalition for President Prabowo to complete the Polri reform agenda, as this step is already urgent. “This is an urgent need to strengthen the Polri institution and improve the performance of Polri’s public services,” said IPW Chairman Sugeng Teguh Santoso to Kompas.com on Tuesday (28/4/2026). “The President who requested its formation,” Sugeng added. Prabowo inaugurated the Police Reform Acceleration Commission at the Merdeka Palace on 7 November 2025, five months ago. In addition, there is the Polri Reform Transformation Team formed by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo on 17 September 2025. Deputy Chairman of Advocacy and Networks at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Arif Maulana, questioned the President’s stance, who has yet to meet with the Police Reform Acceleration Committee (KPRP), even though the recommendations have been finalised since 2 February 2026. “President Prabowo Subianto, who should focus on the commitment to fix Polri, has not met with KPRP due to being busy attending the Board of Peace formed by Donald Trump, overseas visits, and still waiting for the exact meeting date arranged by the State Secretary and Cabinet Secretary. In fact, KPRP has completed its recommendations as of 2 February 2026,” Arif said at the Resonansi ICW office in Jakarta on Monday (27/4/2026). Arif assessed that Polri reform is an urgent agenda to address various issues, from criminalisation practices, case engineering, apparatus brutality, abuse of authority, to involvement in business and practical politics. He also highlighted the potential for abuse of authority by apparatus following the ratification of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), making the reform even more pressing. Therefore, Arif invited the public and media to continue monitoring the police reform agenda to safeguard people’s sovereignty, the rule of law, and human rights. “Urging President Prabowo Subianto to listen to the voice of the people as the owners of sovereignty regarding the public’s demands to reform the police. Ignoring the voice of the people could lead to distrust in the government and police institutions,” he stated.