'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)