National Police separates from defense ministry

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid officially announced on Saturday a separation of the National Police from the Ministry of Defense and a plan to put the police corps under his direct supervision from Jan. 1, 2001.

"In the meantime, we are discussing whether the National Police will be a national institution which has a certain chain of command system or be regulated through the 1999 Regional Autonomy Law," Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, said while addressing a ceremony of the corps' 54th anniversary, held at the National Police Ceremony Field in South Jakarta.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Minister of Defense Juwono Soedarsono and National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo accompanied Abdurrahman in the main field tribute during the ceremony.

A few meters to the left of the main tribute, a number of high-ranking military officers joined the procession, including Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto.

The President, however, did not disclose further whether the police corps would have a provincial chain of command system, should the police's presence be regulated under the autonomy law.

Minister Juwono said recently that the police force, which was put under the ministry's supervision in April last year, would fully come under the control of the President in January 2001.

The minister told reporters following a Cabinet meeting last Wednesday that before January 2001, the police's function and status would be regulated in a presidential decree.

Juwono said on Saturday that the ministry, the National Police and the Ministry of Law and Legislation were now preparing a draft law to lay the foundation for the separation in 2001.

"Hopefully, the law can be completed within the year," he told reporters after the ceremony.

In his address, the President also expressed hope that the law could help eliminate militaristic traditions inherited by TNI.

"I am following the progress report of the discussion on the police's presence with mixed feelings. Some military-style traditions are good and should be preserved by the police.

"But I am also scared that if such traditions are maintained, they will create militarism. While at the same time, the militaristic traditions must be scrapped," he said.

The President said that militarism no longer existed in the country.

"In political terms, militarism does not exist in the country anymore. What still exists is professionalism within the Indonesia Military," he said.

The President expected the people could understand that the police force needed time to eliminate militaristic traditions inherited from the Indonesian Military.

"The installment of official insignia may be considered a militaristic tradition. But it is still maintained as it is an honor to their (police personnel) services," he said.

In the ceremony, Megawati symbolically granted service honors to 784 police personnel, represented by Brig. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika, secretary of Indonesia's NCB-Interpol.

The awards were made to police personnel who have served the corps for over 24 years.

The President also said in his speech that the police must remain focused on their basic duties, instead of concentrating on preparations for a full separation from TNI.

"The duties of the police force are to keep the sovereignty of law and to maintain security and order in the country.

"Once those tasks are completed, all other duties can be carried out automatically," the President said without elaborating. (asa)