Police will take two years to 'become independent'
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto announced on Thursday that the police will have a two-year transition period to severe links from the military and develop into an independent force.
Wiranto said it was "highly possible" that in time the police would be put under the command of the home affairs ministry as is the case in many foreign countries.
"It will depend on the People's Consultative Assembly to decide the National Police's (Polri) fate and then back it up with a law," he said after a ceremony to mark the separation of the 200,000-strong police force from the military at ABRI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
However Wiranto said Polri would not necessarily play the same role as in other countries due to social and political differences.
Wiranto said the two-year transition was not "black-and- white", adding that the time frame might even be shorter.
"This separation is the first step of a long process. We cannot make (these changes) radically and all at the same time."
Following Thursday's ceremony, Polri came under the command of the defense and security ministry.
The new ABRI incorporates the Army, Navy and Air Force. Wiranto has proposed to President B.J. Habibie that ABRI revert to its earlier name Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Military).
In his address to Polri and ABRI rank and file, Wiranto said Polri must adopt less repressive measures and take on the role of the public's protector.
He told the police that their new philosophy should be "to fight crimes, to love humanity and to protect the public".
Wiranto called on the public to help Polri during the transition as "it won't be easy" for police -- aligned with the military for over 30 years -- to change their behavior.
"Public input is called for, but please don't offer it by hurling stones at them."
Law enforcement
An independent police force would significantly contribute to improved enforcement of the country's justice system, Wiranto said.
He conceded that law enforcement in the country was currently at its lowest point. However, he urged members of the public not to simply lay the blame on law enforcers.
"(That citizens) abide to laws is also important."
National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi also acknowledged the poor law enforcement performance, but cited the imbalanced ratio between police and the public as a contributing factor.
With 200,000 police, there is one police officer per 1,500 people, far from the ideal ratio of one officer per 750 civilians.
Roesmanhadi said he would ask the government to extend the retirement age of noncommissioned officers from 48 to 55. The present regulation restricts the retirement age of 55 only to high-ranking officers.
"The more officers in service, the more skilled individuals we can employ," he said.
Roesmanhadi said the extension would reduce the high budget allocated for educational and training funds.
During the ceremony Wiranto removed the force's former service caps from four police officers, replacing them with dark brown visored caps bearing the National Police Tribrata emblem. He then placed brown whistles on their left shoulders. He prompted laughter from the audience when he blew the whistle belonging to First Lt. Purnomo Adi.
Specialized police units comprising traffic police, detectives and the Mobile Brigade will retain their former uniforms of white caps, red maroon berets and dark blue berets respectively.
Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib, Chief Justice Sarwata and former National Police chiefs Gen. (ret) Dibyo Widodo and Gen. (ret) Awaloeddin Djamin attended the ceremony.
Military top brass in attendance were ABRI Territorial chief Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ABRI chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Sugiono, Army chief Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, Navy chief Admiral Widodo AS, Air Force Commander Marshall Hanafie Asnan and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defense Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi.
A few hours after the ceremony, Wiranto unveiled the National Police Headquarters board on Jl. Trunojoyo in South Jakarta. The large board in front of police headquarters now reads Ministry of Defense and Security instead of Indonesian Armed Forces. (aan/emf)