Police concerned about protests

JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo expressed concern over the number of protests breaking out in many cities as an actualization of the demand for reform.

It is feared that the protests, which have been accompanied by burning and destruction, will affect security, he said in his final lecture to cadets of the Police Academy in South Jakarta on Monday night.

Dibyo said that since the police would continue to support conceptual, gradual, sustainable and constitutional reform, the force would keep an eye on whether the reform movement stayed on track.

"The police support reform and will continue to uphold unity, the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution," he said.

He acknowledged that recent incidents in Medan, Jakarta and Surakarta had caused problems between the police, in their capacity as security officers, and members of the public.

He viewed the problems as serious challenges, and said that nonetheless the police were expected to uphold the law.

"So, the police are urged to be able to make anticipative steps accurately. They should also be fast and correct," Dibyo said. (jun)