Police to play greater role in internal security

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung promised over the weekend to give the National Police Force greater responsibility in security matters.

"We're pushing the National Police Force to the front line to protect the country from internal security problems. We will increase its role in line with the Armed Forces strategic planning," Feisal said on Saturday.

Feisal Tanjung was responding to the suggestion President Soeharto made during a speech on Saturday to mark ABRI's 51st anniversary. The President said that internal security problems were better handled by the National Police Force personnel who are trained for that purpose.

Soeharto also said the National Police Force is expected to take the initiative in containing domestic security problems.

"Only if it is necessary, should the other services be brought in," he said, referring to the Army, Navy and Air Force, which, together with the National Police Force, make up ABRI.

Soeharto pointed out that the government is now paying greater attention to beefing up and strengthening the National Police Force.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said that his office is the ready to accept the greater responsibility.

"We have already started some reorganization to meet the new demand for a greater role for the National Police Force in maintaining security," he was quoted as saying by Antara on Saturday.

He cited the restructuring process going on within the ranks of the police force, as well as the increment in the number of provincial commands and the establishment of the Elite Speedy Reaction Unit.

Last month, the National Police Force inaugurated the Mobile Brigade as an autonomous corps, in order to give the elite police unit greater leeway in carrying out its duties.

Under the new status, the corps will gain at least 700 new personnel in addition to its current 5,000 members. The rank of the commander, currently a colonel, will now be that of a brigadier general.

The National Police Force's massive reorganization plan includes the recruitment of another 10,000 personnel and the establishment of regional police headquarters nationwide.

The provinces for which the regional police headquarters will be established are Southeast Sulawesi, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, East Timor, Yogyakarta, Lampung, Jambi and Bengkulu.

Dibyo also mentioned a number of police operations and newly procured police equipment meant to support the force's performance.

Criticism has been rife in the past of the performance of the National Police Force, and of how Army personnel were often deployed for cases which should have been handled by the police. (imn)