Polri Reform: Kompolnas to Become an Independent Institution
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government plans to strengthen the role of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) as part of the Polri reform agenda, including transforming it into an independent institution with stronger oversight authority.
At a press conference on Polri reform at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, Chairman of the Polri Reform Acceleration Commission Jimly Asshiddiqie stated that President Prabowo Subianto has positively received the proposal to strengthen Kompolnas to make external oversight of the police institution more effective.
According to Jimly, one of the main changes is that Kompolnas’s decisions and recommendations will henceforth be binding, obligating the police chief and police ranks to implement them.
“The President strongly agrees to the strengthening of Kompolnas. The Republic of Indonesia Police Commission will be strengthened so that its decisions and recommendations are binding,” said Jimly.
He explained that this strengthening aims to increase the effectiveness of oversight functions over Polri while reinforcing the institutional accountability of the police going forward. These provisions will be regulated through revisions to the Law on Polri.
On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Services Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated that expanding Kompolnas’s authority is one of the important points in the police reform being prepared by the government.
“Kompolnas’s authority is expanded and emphasised, so the implication is a change to the Polri Law,” explained Yusril.
He stated that the government, through relevant ministries, is drafting amendments to the law, which will subsequently be submitted to the DPR as an amendment to the current police regulations.
Meanwhile, member of the Polri Reform Acceleration Commission Mahfud MD added that Kompolnas in the future is designed to become a truly independent external oversight institution with certain executive powers.
“So, Kompolnas will become an independent institution that oversees the police’s external oversight body, so Kompolnas will not be like it is now, as a kind of spokesperson, but truly an overseer with executive decisions at certain levels,” clarified Mahfud.
In the new design, Kompolnas membership will consist of nine individuals from various societal elements, ranging from former high-ranking Polri officials, advocates, academics, community figures, to experts from various fields.