Police would regain public trust if 'they avoid political cases'
Police would regain public trust if 'they avoid political cases'
JAKARTA (JP): Police should avoid taking on politically
sensitive cases if they want to regain public trust before being
separated from the Armed Forces, a legal scholar said Tuesday.
Prof. Satjipto Rahardjo of Diponegoro University cited the
cases of American scholar Jeffrey Winters, who was named a
suspect for allegedly defaming finance minister Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, and last year's interrogation of members of the
National Front (Barisan Nasional), who were charged with treason.
"Police must be very careful not to get trapped in cases that
will force them to make political choices. Future police in
Indonesia must try to disconnect their role from the political
machine," Satjipto said.
The police investigation of Winters and Barisan Nasional has
come under much criticism. In the latter case, it was said that
the group members, including retired generals, had merely
expressed opinions.
Satjipto was speaking at a one-day discussion on the police
agenda in the lead-up to its separation from the Armed Forces
(ABRI). The process is to begin on April 1.
The separation, which will be gradual, was first announced on
the anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces on Oct.
5 last year.
Minister of Defense and Security/ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto
has said that in the first six months the police would answer to
the defense ministry, instead of the Armed Forces.
After the transition period, an evaluation may determine
whether the police will function under the Ministry of Home
Affairs or be directly answerable to the president.
Satjipto said "political cases" were those which involved
intervention from those holding power.
"Police must disconnect themselves from such cases to avoid
them being forced into making political choices," which is not
their job, Satjipto said, adding this would make them merely "a
political machine".
After the separation, police must work harder to improve their
image, Satjipto said. "In the next couple of months, front-line
officers such as traffic police must be reeducated.
"They must be trained to be more caring to people. I think
medium rank officers here are open-minded and support reforms."
Another speaker, lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda, said ABRI leaders
in the future must be ready for certain consequences following
the separation of police from the military.
Hakim said that, during the transition period under the
defense ministry, ABRI leaders would have to consider the
possibility of separating the position of the minister and the
commander of the Armed Forces.
Although this decision must be made by the President, "it is
better to 'purify' police from decades of combat force
influences, by having separate leaders to avoid dualism," Hakim,
from the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam),
said.
President B.J. Habibie last year denied that the two roles,
currently both held by Wiranto, would be split.
All speakers supported the immediate separation of police from
ABRI, saying all other necessary changes could follow later.
"The most important thing in this separation is to increase
police wages and upgrade their performance," said psychologist
Sarlito Wirawan, who is an adviser assisting police in the
separation.
He warned the public against high hopes after April 1, saying
many changes were required: "It could take 10 to 20 years to have
a decent police corps," Sarlito said. (edt)