Police called on to stick to ethics

JAKARTA (JP): A former National Police Chief called yesterday on police officers to stick to police ethics in their work.

Gen. (ret) Kunarto said ethical behavior improved the professionalism of the police and encouraged people to trust the police more.

"People will be proud to have ethical police," he said after the launching of three of his books on police issues.

Kunarto's books are Etika Polisi (Police Ethics), Tribrata & Catur Prasetya (Police Pledges) and Tren Kejahatan dan Peradilan Pidana (Crime Trends and Criminal Justice).

The launching was at the Police Science Institute's auditorium on Jl. Tirtayasa in South Jakarta.

Criminologist Adrianus E. Meliala, who spoke at the launch, said "ethics are not really the problem". The main problem was related to the conditions of police work and low wages in particular, he said.

Another speaker, father Franz Magnis-Suseno, criticized police over their frequent use of violence in solving cases.

He cited the cases of Yogyakarta-based reporter Fuad M. Sayafrudin, the Tasikmalaya riot, and the death of prisoner Tjetje Tadjudin in Bogor. (jun)