Police will take two years to 'become independent'

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)