'Military, police must work 'hand in hand'

'Military, police must work 'hand in hand'

Heads rolled following the recent bombings in Jakarta but
Koesparmono Irsan, former National Police deputy chief of
operations and a member of the National Commission of Human
Rights, says problems remain regarding the improvement of the
police force.

Question:How do you see Gen. Rusdihardjo's replacement as
National Police chief?

Answer: I think a chief of such an institution has very
serious responsibilities. It takes some time to evaluate a
national police chief but now we've seen a sudden dismissal.

Then there's the gap between the People's Consultative
Assembly decree which regulates the installment and dismissal of
the National Police chief and states that approval from the House
of Representatives must be established, and a law which doesn't
exist yet on how to deal with an emergency.

Secondly, subsequent chiefs may face the same problems
as Gen. Rusdihardjo. The new chief (his deputy Comr. Gen.
Bimantoro) was also under Rusdihardjo. I hope the successor will
be able to handle everything wisely and that he won't be
overburdened.

As for Rusdihardjo himself ... he told me once he only had
less than a year (to retire). He's prepared for this.

You said you hoped the successor wouldn't be overburdened...

The National Police is not well organized yet. But the police
must perform well. Yet instead of improving qualifications there
has been fierce competition among personnel for ranks and
positions. This has gone on for a long time. Some don't want to
be under the command of juniors.

So what is most needed to improve police ability?

Honesty and a standard of professionalism. We have to be ready
to accept those who are more qualified although they are younger
or junior (in rank). We must also be able to tell that someone is
more professional than the others based on this standard.

There must also be fair treatment -- everyone should have the
same access to further education or training and not just through
nepotism. This is needed for fair competition.

Then we need to reform the police training and education
system. We don't want to see police officers simply chasing
ranks. I know (at the moment) that close ties with seniors can
ensure one gets what one wants.

It sounds as though many officers are bypassing procedures.

Yes. It still happens. Some come to me for recommendations so
they can get something. I just refuse them. I can't do this. To
get a good police officer we need well selected, well motivated,
well educated, well trained, well equipped and well paid
personnel.

(In the past) some officers who failed in an examination
accused others who succeeded of bribing officers in charge to
ensure they passed.

Has poor professionalism and unhealthy internal competition
affected the failure so far to reveal the masterminds of the
bombing incidents in Jakarta?

No. Any bomb blast needs a relatively longer period to
investigate. Investigation for underground operations like that
takes time. Just look at similar examples overseas. But this is
not mathematics. We live in Jakarta -- while we must also examine
why police in other countries have failed in their investigations
of bombings.

Are there barriers in the relations between military and the
police?

We don't have any guidelines on responsibilities after the
split (of the National Police from the Indonesian Military, or
TNI). Just look at what's happening in Aceh, it's not clear who
is really in charge. A clear division of labor is really needed
in a civilian emergency, martial law or a war. What are the roles
of the police under such conditions?

What about rivalry between the military and police?

It takes time to accept the separation. Now it's hard to ask
for support or help in deploying personnel (from the military).
The police have greater challenges now.

Just imagine the police ratio of one officer to 2,000 citizens
dealing with various daily crimes.

The military and the police should work hand in hand, as the
police have the authority but not the power while the latter has
the power but no authority.

Some believe the police could easily investigate the bombings,
but are reluctant to do so. Does the problem again lie in
relations with the TNI?

There is an institutional barrier. But I first need to say
that people think that a bomb is not a common weapon and must
therefore be related to the military.

We can't base investigations on assumptions but only on facts
before we can begin to determine the details.

But we haven't seen good cooperation from the military's side.

Regarding one of the bombing incidents, (state-owned arms
manufacturer) PT Pindad said a serial number (on one of the
bombs) had been deployed by the military. Later the military
stated that its bombs were yet to be used without providing
evidence.

So whose bomb exploded? I see this as a kind of institutional
barrier. (I. Christianto)