Police to play greater role in internal security
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)