Let police do the job

Let police do the job

It might have been pure coincidence, but ahead of the first
anniversary of our President's term, the police finally started
to arrest civilians walking about with firearms and other
weapons. Now that would be baffling to some -- of course anyone
would be arrested when gallivanting about town carrying sharp
weapons or guns without a license? So what?

But in Indonesia this has infamously not been the case, not
only in the previously violent, lawless conflict areas but also
in relatively peaceful areas like Jakarta.

So when reports came in this week of police arresting members
of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for carrying weapons in
Jakarta, this was news indeed. In Surakarta, a police officer was
fired for failing to act against locals taking the law into their
own hands and smashing bottles of liquor, on the grounds that
those selling it did not respect the spirit of Ramadhan.

The reports brought good news because it was a clear message
that the police were trying to do their job -- maintaining law
and order -- a job that the public should be able to take for
granted.

Such a message brings on a sense of security, a basic human
right which gives the city dweller the feeling that he need not
look over his shoulder or worry about his car every time he
happens to be in the way of a group of men deciding to become
judge and jury, who then act like brawling students or hoodlums
and let bottles and stones fly, regardless of any noble intention
they might have.

The police need to know that they have the public's support,
though maybe not expressed often enough, for them to take on
their role fully as the security keepers in line with their
formal separation from the military.

This means they need to show and reassert the firm message
that the job of maintaining law and order is theirs, the job
mandated by the state, not just any macho-looking group in
military-style fatigues or self appointed moral police.

It was dismaying in the earlier months to see that police
virtually turned a blind eye to gangs behaving violently, either
those involved in the forced closure of entertainment sites or of
"illegal" houses of worship.

The police were similarly powerless in the past during
campaigns of political parties, when every contesting party had
their private security forces, inevitably leading to violence
when emotions got heated among rival supporters. Now in the post
New Order era, people have every right to demand more of their
law enforcers.

Some have argued that violence is a last resort, an expression
of despair of powerless groups when they've tried for years to
have the police act on what is seen as disruptive, offensive or
decadent behavior. Take, for instance groups of women
representing communities, who set fire to centers of
prostitution, which they see as a business destructive to the
family, but seemingly well protected.

But violence has never solved problems; the faithful will
sooner or later find a way to congregate again, be they
Christians or the Ahmadiyah group, those in need of work will
always seek jobs in those entertainment sites, and there will
always be men who seek the services of sex workers.

We've heard the excuse that it will take a long time to have a
professional police force. But the National Police Headquarters
could learn from Central Java's provincial police chief Insp.
Gen. Chaerul Rasjid, following the raid on restaurants.

"Stunned by the vandalism during the holy month, Gen. Chaerul
reportedly briefed all local police chiefs in the province on
Wednesday and told them that the incident in Surakarta had to be
the last," this paper reported on Thursday. "If a police officer
fails to follow orders, I'm telling you that he or she has to be
replaced," he said.

Citizens should no longer have to put up with things like
civilian groups with apparent impunity to do whatever they see
fit, just because they may have the support or backing of a
individuals or privileged groups.

They should be able to expect that in daily life one can go
about one's business safely. An entirely valid request,
especially from a populace that is increasingly encouraged to pay
taxes as their civic obligation.