Police officially become civilian force

The National Police are now officially separate from the Indonesian Military. The bill on National Police affairs has been enacted by the House of Representatives (DPR). Hence, the police are no longer a part of the military apparatus but are a civilian institution, subject to the same civilian law that applies to the general population.

As a result, the police need no longer live under the shadow of the military, as a junior partner that has to obey what the senior partner says. Henceforth, the TNI won't be able to order the police to adopt their military style. On the other hand, the police can no longer act like soldiers.

This separation has put the police in their rightful place. It recognizes that police officers are not soldiers whose duty is to be engaged in combat. They are a security apparatus that faces different enemies from those faced by members of the Indonesian military, which functions as a defense apparatus. Police duties are limited to the general public.

There are a number of requirements that need to be met if the police are to become an autonomous institution. The police will no longer depend on funding from the military, the amount of which hasn't necessarily been sufficient to meet the highly dynamic challenges they face.

White collar crime is on the increase, and its incidence has been rising at the same rate as more traditional crimes, such as robbery, theft and the like. The police must be allowed to keep pace with the criminals to ensure they are not left behind and do not become the object of ridicule.

-- Republika, Jakarta