Police concerned about protests

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)