Police reforms should begin in earnest now: Retired generals
Police reforms should begin in earnest now: Retired generals
JAKARTA (JP): Following the formal separation of police from
the Armed Forces, former senior police officers said the work was
only just beginning to gain true independence for the police and
reeducate the force's personnel.
Gen. (ret) Awaloeddin Djamin: the former National Police chief
said he has long been an advocate of an independent police force,
as a result, the force was seen to have a greater amount of
autonomy during his five-year tenure from 1978 to 1982.
"I think the police force deserves to be treated fairly. It
needs greater autonomy to increase its professionalism."
He said it was high time for police, who are supposed to be
the country's pillars of law enforcement, to show the public they
can be fairer and more effective in upholding justice.
Awaloeddin said the police force could now develop its own
policies, while still coordinating with other Armed Forces (ABRI)
elements to safeguard the nation.
"It's a new era. Police have to learn from scratch how to know
their own strength and stand straight, without any interference,
among the other security elements," he said, after a ceremony
marking the separation of police from ABRI at National Police
Headquarters.
In serving the public, Awaloeddin reminded the police force to
reform its appearance to be more "friendly and not like ABRI".
Gen. (ret) M. Sanusi: Awaloeddin's successor, Gen. (ret) M.
Sanusi said appearance changes were needed, but reforms of the
force's official attitude and philosophy, based on the Tribrata
doctrine, were most needed.
The three-point doctrine among others says police should be
models of dedication to the state, and are obliged to ensure
public order. Police are also told their duty includes
"eliminating enemies of the state and society".
"I know it is not easy to interpret the Tribrata teachings now
that police are separate from ABRI," Sanusi said. The principle
of serving the public needs to be repeatedly pushed to police of
all ranks, he said.
He said it may take two or three years before police can be
truly independent.
Maj. Gen. (ret) Koesparmono Irsan, a former police officer: He
suggests that the police force should first go through a thorough
introspection process to discover strong points and weaknesses
that need to be improved.
"With the current reform era, I think police can see that they
are not too late to totally reform their reputation ... (in)
public service."
Being responsive to public reports and fairer in treating
people would be the key to win people's hearts, he said.
"We all have been occupied by scenes of riots in which police
act like combat troops, beating and torturing unarmed people."
Police need to "acknowledge the misleading images and prepare
better images ahead," he said.
History
The National Police has not always been a part of the Armed
Forces. On July 1, 1946, the police, then under the supervision
of the Ministry of Home Affairs, was handed over to the prime
minister.
That date became National Police Day.
In 1949, the police were placed under the supervision of the
Minister of Defense to prepare for the transfer of sovereignty
from the Dutch.
The prime minister regained control in 1950, after Indonesia
broke its agreement with the Dutch to establish a federal state
in the archipelago.
Integration into the military began with the first Police Law,
enacted in 1961. It was the result of historical ties between the
police and the Armed Forces built up during the fight against
Dutch colonialism.
However, the law stated that police were not a military
force. It obliged police to carry out law enforcement as a
civilian institution and entitled them the same treatment as
civil servants in terms of career planning and salaries.
Former police chiefs have said police were integrated into the
Armed Forces in 1961 for practical reasons, particularly because
the police were armed.
They also said the Armed Forces maintained its control over
the police under the New Order government because of fears that
communists would attempt to separate the forces. (emf)