Police watchdog plan supported

JAKARTA (JP): Constitutional law professors and a legal expert gave their support on Thursday to the National Police proposal to set up a special commission to supervise the performance of the force.

Speaking at a seminar on the draft to be proposed to the House of Representatives, the experts -- constitutional law professors Harun Alrasid and Jusril Ihza Mahendra and legal expert Harkristuti Harkrisnowo -- agreed that such a commission would be required to establish an independent police force.

Based on article 11 of the proposed draft, the commission would accommodate people's aspirations for improvement of the performance of police.

The draft proposed that members of the commission would consist of legislators and noted figures in society.

"I'm glad this draft includes the formation of the special commission, since someone needs to keep an eye on our national police force," Harkristuti said.

Sharing the idea, Jusril, however, underlined that the National Police chief should only be answerable to the president, not to others, including the House.

"The chief should be on the same level as the attorney general, answering only to the president," he said, referring to Article 12 of the proposed draft, which stipulates that the president would appoint the National Police chief after receiving House approval.

But Harun, one of the country's senior constitutional law professors, advised the police not to propose a new bill and entirely bury the existing law just to have the legal basis for the establishment of the special commission.

"I think there is no need to pass a new bill, since the last one is only two years old... it will be just a waste of energy," he said.

The concept of a police watchdog was mentioned earlier this month by prominent former National Police chief, Awaloeddin Djamin.

In his view, such a commission should follow Japan's model.

According to Harkristuti, similar commissions have also been set up in other countries, particularly in Scandinavia.

She added that the authority of the special police commission in Indonesia should be similar to the National Commission on Human Rights, or Komnasham, which can issue recommendations only.

The seminar, held by the National Police, was attended by scores of senior police officers, such as Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, and postgraduate students from several universities.

Moderator of the seminar Anas Saidi questioned the reason for including House members on the commission.

"If the commission aimed at establishing an independent National Police force, then the House whose members are from various political parties should have no right to interfere in the police work," Anas said. (03)