Officer Sofyan's death

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sofyan, a 21-year-old police sergeant, met with an unusual death. While he was driving in the Pondok Kopi area, East Jakarta, he was approached by two plain clothes policemen. An argument ensued, then a shot was heard and Sofyan fell to the ground, dead.

Later in the day, Jakarta's police chief issued a statement to the press, saying that Sofyan was a phony policeman who was suspected of frequently extorting people in the area. He was shot while resisting arrest, the police chief said.

At this point, however, a controversy arose. His family felt there was something odd in the situation. Sofyan was alleged to be a phony police officer and a suspected extortionist. An autopsy on his body was not allowed and the family was barred from making statements to the press.

Sofyan's family demanded a formal clarification from the police. Fortunately, the police admitted that Sofyan had indeed been a police officer and not a phony one. Whether he had been guilty of extortion, only further investigations will prove.

This case reminds us of a warning given by the chief of police some time ago, that police would shoot any criminal resisting arrest. Sofyan San's case may or may not have anything to do with the warning. Nevertheless, there is a rising fear that our police officers will become "Dirty Harrys" -- after the film hero who hates criminals so much that he will not hesitate to execute any suspected crook.

We accept that firm measures must be taken against criminals. There is, however, one condition that must be fulfilled: There must be legitimate proof that such measures are warranted. Sofyan's case, however, also demonstrates that only a very thin line separates what is allowed from what is not.

-- Republika, Jakarta