Police to change caps to mark separation from ABRI
Police to change caps to mark separation from ABRI
JAKARTA (JP): Police across the country have been ordered to
wear the force's old service caps on Thursday to mark the
separation of the National Police from the Armed Forces (ABRI), a
senior officer said on Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Saleh Saaf of the National Police public information
unit said the dark brown visored caps, bearing the National
Police Tribrata emblem, would be used by all personnel to replace
the various types of caps currently in use by different police
units.
"It's actually our old police uniform. So not all police
personnel will be able to change their caps, as many of them
might not have one," Saleh told The Jakarta Post.
To mark the separation from ABRI after 33 years, police
nationwide have also been ordered to dress in their uniform
shirts, embroidered with the letters "Polri" (the abbreviation
for Indonesian National Police) on the collars.
According to a tentative schedule, ABRI Commander/Minister of
Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto will officially announce the
police's separation from ABRI in a special ceremony at 8 a.m. on
Thursday at ABRI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
Officer Saleh said the small alterations to the appearance of
police personnel reflected the force's scarcity of funds. Further
changes, including the use of a new ranking system, are to be
carried out in phases.
"We are not using new uniforms immediately as it will take
time, and there are not yet any funds for that," Saleh said.
According to Saleh, many in the force hoped the curriculum of
police schools and academies would also eventually be revised.
"The separation and all factors attached to the separation,
including the revision of curriculum .. and advanced education,
can't happen overnight," he said.
Saleh said that, above all, the separation was expected to
change the police mentality.
"The most important thing in the separation is our mentality,"
he said, without elaborating.
The separation was hinted by Wiranto last year, after many
years of public longing.
Under the current system, ABRI incorporates the police as well
as the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The police have found themselves on the receiving end of
increasingly strong criticism, particularly over their handling
of public unrest and rioting. Police have often been involved in
clashes and conflicts with civilian protesters.
The two responsibilities of the police force, that of owing
allegiance to ABRI and serving the public, are thought by some
observers to be a conflict of interest.
"Public often complain about our services in handling their
reports. Many say police are abusing their powers over civilians
who seek their help.
I understand why this happens. We're trained under the
military education system but later, after graduation, we have to
deal with civilians," said a police officer, who did not want to
be identified.
The officer also expressed his dissatisfaction over the way
police handle protesters according to their military background.
"They're not our enemy, we're not supposed to attack them," he
said. (emf)