Policewomen celebrate their 50th anniversary

Policewomen celebrate their 50th anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's policewomen, who account for 3.44
percent of the police force's 197,400 members, celebrated their
50th anniversary at National Police Headquarters in a modest way
on Tuesday.

The ceremony, led by National Police Chief Lt. Gen.
Roesmanhadi, was highlighted by several activities, including a
parade and a series of demonstrations of special skills by female
officers.

The anniversary commemorated the first admission of six women
to the National Police force at the Sumatra Police Institute in
Bukittinggi on Sept. 1, 1948.

The six female cadets, later known as the founders of the
policewomen's corps, were later in charge of solving problems
involving children and women.

Only two of the six founders are still living. They are Col.
(ret.) Djasmaniar Husein and Col. (ret.) Rosnalia Taher.

Today, Indonesia has a total of 6,790 female police officers.
Twenty-five percent of them hold ranks ranging from major to
brigadier general, with the remaining 75 percent ranging from
sergeants to captains.

A total of 3,064 female officers are currently assigned to
operational sections, with the remaining 3,726 working in other
services.

"We hope to see the number of female officers in the national
force increase to 9,851 personnel, or about 5 percent of the
total force by next year," the three-star general said.

Several policewomen contacted by The Jakarta Post expressed
optimism over policewomen's tasks.

"We exist because people need our services. As women, we are
born to be more sensitive, caring and compassionate to others.

"It helps us carry out our duties as law enforcers. We can
lead people to obey regulations, but in a kind of persuasive
way," Col. Erda Latuasan Tarigan, personnel assistant to the
national police chief, said.

She said that in order for policewomen to stay charming yet
stern, they still received a Rp 20,000 monthly allowance to help
buy cosmetics, lipstick and other needs.

"This allowance has been provided since 1972. Thank God,
despite the crisis, we are still given the allowance so we can
look pretty," the 52-year-old officer said.

The head of the National Police policewomen division, Lt. Col.
Wahyu Widiarti, said the amount was actually very small compared
to policewomen's personal needs, especially because of the
skyrocketing prices of cosmetics during the crisis.

"But luckily we have also been issued undergarments. Twice a
year, we are issued nightgowns, bras and underwear. All we have
to do is to submit our sizes," Wahyu said.

"We are also issued three pairs of shoes, boots with semi-high
hills and high hills, and two kinds of handbags. Well, policemen
get less things than us," she said.

Policewomen are also allowed to grow nails. "But they can be
no longer than three millimeters and hair length must be two
centimeters above the collar," she said.

"Well, the most important thing for policewomen to do is to
keep on smiling and be charming with people despite the crisis,"
Wahyu said. (edt)