Police should be put under ministry: Analysts
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Analysts belonged to the ProPatria security working group suggested on Thursday that the National Police be put under a Cabinet ministry assigned by the president.
The ministry, according to the analysts, would draft, manage, and implement a national police system.
The National Police are currently accountable to the president.
They also suggested that the scope of work of the National Police be divided according to administrative territories.
"Police at the national level will be accountable to the Cabinet ministry, while police in regions will be responsible to their respective administration," said Edy Prasetyono during a hearing with the Constitutional Commission here on Thursday.
Also attending the hearing were Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cornelis Lay of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), and Munir from non-governmental organization Impartial.
Edy of CSIS said that the National Police could be put under the home ministry or the justice ministry depending on the focus of their work.
"If we focus on internal security, the National Police can be put under the Ministry of Home Affairs," he added.
Constitutional Commission member Bun Yamin Ramto hailed the suggestion, saying that some developed countries had implemented a similar arrangement.
He said that the post of provincial police chief could also be held by the governor while the post of regental or mayoral police chief could be held by the mayor or regent.
"In the future, a politician can head the police force in certain regions," he said.
The analysts met the Constitutional Commission to offer a draft revision to the 1945 Constitution, especially articles on defense and security.
They suggested that stipulations on national security be put in a specific chapter in the Constitution. The chapter should mention the function and role of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in the national defense system and the function and the role of the National Police in the national police system.
The national defense system must reflect the supremacy of civilians, namely by enforcing the control of the defense budget.
"There should be a stipulation in the Constitution that the management and administration of the national defense system will be financed by the state budget," he said.
Regarding the use of military equipment by soldiers, the analysts suggested that force could only be used to defend, protect, and maintain the unity and the sovereignty of the nation.
The implementation of a defense strategy by the TNI must always refer to the principles of humanitarian law, they said.
Proposed chapter on national security --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. National security is organized to fulfill the national interests that encompass the security of state, nation, and its citizens.
2. The state is accountable for the implementation of national security by creating the outline, management, and organization of a national security system and national police system. --------------------------------------------------------------- Source: ProPatria