National Police told to maintain security, stability
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told the police force yesterday to not hesitate to nip any form of criminal activity posing a danger to national development in the bud.
"The strong current of globalization now sweeping the world has not only brought about positive results regarding economic, cultural and socio-political relationships among nations, but has also resulted in a significant rise in the number of criminal activities worldwide," the President said in a written speech read out by National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman during a ceremony to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the National Police Force.
Soeharto reminded the police in his speech that law breakers have become more sophisticated in their activities. "Now they have started trying to find loopholes in our criminal codes, to exploit the weak points of our law enforcers by, for example, bribing their way past them, etc. This is why I deem it urgent for the police to nip any form of crime in the bud."
The President also warned the public about the infiltration of international criminal activities into the country.
"The National Police Force is facing greater and greater challenges ahead. To answer these challenges, it is indispensable that the policemen must continually improve their professionalism and must be on the alert all of the time against any eventualities," Soeharto added.
He said the police must be able to anticipate any untoward events that could impair national stability and jeopardize the Pancasila ideology and the 1945 Constitution.
Reminding the gathering that the National Police Force came into being shortly after the nation proclaimed its independence on Aug. 17, 1945, Soeharto pointed out in his speech that the police serve not only as law enforcers, but also as a unified force for defense of that independence, which is inseparable from the Armed Forces.
The celebration for this year's Police Day was staged at the sporting grounds of police headquarters.
The anniversary celebrations featured a series of attractions, including a parade by police troops, a martial-arts demonstration and musical performances.
As in previous years, this year, awards of merit were presented to a number of police officers for their extraordinary and meritorious service to the National Police Force in particular and the nation in general.
Among notable dignitaries in attendance were Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudrajat, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who acted as the inspector of the ceremony, and two former national police chiefs, Gen.(ret) Kunarto and Gen.(ret) Awaluddin Djamin.
Weaknesses
On the occasion, Gen. Feisal said that despite all the prevalent weaknesses, in general the police force has managed to show a good performance in keeping law and order.
He said the Armed Forces will consistently develop the police force so that "they become more professional, skillful and respectable."
"Efforts to improve the quality of our police force are urgent especially in view of the facts that the public has become more law-minded and that criminal activities have become more and more sophisticated," Feisal said.
He pointed out that efforts to combat crime in the future will need more professional skills, as well as ideological, political, economic and socio-cultural analysis.
"There is no denying that the police force serves as the spearhead in our efforts to maintain order and security," he added.
He once again stressed that when it comes to quelling public disturbances, it is the police that should be at the forefront, not the Armed Forces.
National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman concurred with Feisal, saying: "The military only serves as a back-up force. And this could take several forms: either the military personnel are placed in our group in which we take command, or they will handle public disturbances and let the police follow up with a further legal process." (jsk/bas)