Police should maintain stability: Adm. Widodo

Police should maintain stability: Adm. Widodo

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo
A.S. has underlined the primacy of the role of the National
Police in law enforcement, stressing that the military should
focus primarily on national defense.

"The National Police must assume the main role as the backbone
and cornerstone of law enforcement in maintaining stability and
creating a sense of safety among the people," he said at a post-
Idul Fitri gathering with members of the House of
Representatives's Commission I on defense and security here on
Sunday.

He barred the military from delving into the police's area of
responsibility, contending they should only serve as additional
reinforcements for police in emergencies.

Also present at Sunday's informal gathering were Army chief
Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Navy chief Adm. Sutjipto, Air Force deputy
chief Vice Marshal I Gde Sudana, National Police chief Lt. Gen.
Rusdihardjo and TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Suaidy
Marasabessy.

"I think it is now time for all sides, including the military,
to entrust the National Police to deal wholly with law
enforcement matters," he said.

Prior to its separation from the Armed Forces, the police were
considered subordinate to the military, particularly the Army, in
many aspects, including in the functioning of its daily duties.

The military was considered to have a strong say in various
legal and local matters, particularly through the wide-reaching
influence of regional military commands and the presence of
soldiers in rural areas.

"Besides taking strict action against law breakers, the
National Police should be able to thoroughly investigate
sectarian violence. Society is now challenging them to repair
their image as law enforcers," he said.

National Police chief Rusdihardjo hailed Widodo's comments and
pledged to make significant progress in law enforcement within
the next three months.

He stressed that the police were in need of moral and
political support to carry out this mission.

Rusdihardjo, who only recently took over the police's top job
from Gen. Roesmanhadi, expressed his appreciation for the
confidence and trust shown by the military chief.

"We will work hard and consolidate internally to develop our
image," he said.

Budget

Rusdihardjo also called on members of the House and the
government to give their full support to the proposed increase in
the police's budget to enable it to recruit new personnel and
improve its performance in the future.

"The police's present budget is very low and it is running
short of personnel to carry out its numerous tasks nationwide,"
he said.

"The present number of police personnel is only around
225,000. This figure is very small compared to the country's size
and population," he said.

The current ratio between police personnel and the population
is 1:1,200. Rusdihardjo said the ideal ratio was 1:400.

The draft 2000 budget submitted by the government last week
included a subsection for the allocation of the police's budget.

Rp 2.65 trillion was allocated for routine expenditure for the
nine-month period covered by the budget. While for development
spending, which usually denotes logistic and equipment
procurement, Rp 127 billion.

By comparison, the military was allotted Rp 5.4 trillion for
its routine expenditure and Rp 415.4 billion for development
spending.

Rusdihardjo stressed that increases in police salaries and
welfare would go a long way in motivating officers to enhance
their performances.

"From a psychological view, it will be difficult for us to
order our personnel to work hard if their minimum physical needs
cannot be met (by their salaries)," he said.

"The government and the House, which are deliberating the
state budget draft, should pay more attention to this matter," he
said.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung signaled the House's support for
the police's budget.

"If objective conditions indicate the police's budget should
be raised, the House will give its endorsement," said Akbar
during a separate gathering here on Sunday.

He said the House would also support the military's internal
reform that would see it return it to its defense function while
the police handle law enforcement. (rms)