Police focus only on high-profile cases: NGO

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite the praise the police have earned from the international community in solving several bombing cases, many low profile cases are left unsolved as the year 2003 comes to a close.

A non-government organization, Police Watch, said the police had also still yet to live up to the public's expectations following their formal separation from the military (TNI).

"We must acknowledge what the police have achieved during the year," chairman Rashid H. Lubis said on Tuesday, citing the Bali bombings in October 2002 and the JW Marriott Hotel bombing in August this year.

"However, according to our survey, many problems such as the continuing conflict between police and TNI personnel, increasing crimes committed by police personnel and the handling of corruption cases still mar police performance," Lubis said. He cited at least seven clashes involving police and military personnel this year.

"These conflicts are caused both by inconsistencies in Law No. 2/2002 on National Police and also the mentality of the police following their separation from TNI," said Lubis.

He said the law stipulated that the police should have authority over internal security and that TNI should handle external threats. However, the law also states that the TNI could help the police if requested, in handling a conflict area, he said. "This opportunity is used by the TNI to take the control in the field. And the police are not yet able to lead the TNI personnel," said Lubis.

Lubis also said that the achievement of a professional police force was still far off as the police had only been concentrating on big cases. This obviously does not fulfill their objective to serve and protect the people.

Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the police internal review this year revealed an increase in crimes.

"Conventional crimes have not risen, but crimes such as kidnapping have increased by 25 percent, murder by 3 percent and robbery with violence by 10 percent, while transnational crimes have also increased. Drug trafficking and abuse increased by 21.6 percent," said Da'i.

He said that terrorism-related cases decreased by 22.8 percent if one compared the figures to 2002. However, the threat of terrorism still looms large as many suspects have not been apprehended.

"Although the trend in terror attacks has decreased, they pose a potential threat because many masterminds such as Azahari and Noordi Moh Top are still fugitives," Da'i said.

He said police would likely face similar crimes in 2004 and stressed that "non-conventional" crimes would increase significantly.

"We also have given special attention to crimes committed in conflict areas such as in Aceh, Maluku, Papua and Poso (Central Sulawesi). We are trying hard to stop the conflict in Poso from resurfacing because this conflict has lasted for years. I think the people are fed up and so it will help us create a situation conducive to peace," Dai added.