Prabowo: Law Enforcement Must Not Be Selective

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that law enforcement in Indonesia must side with justice and cannot become a tool for the interests of certain groups. The message was delivered amid his appreciation for the National Police’s success in uncovering various crimes, ranging from narcotics to the eradication of online gambling and terrorism. This was conveyed by Prabowo during his address at the 80th Bhayangkara Day Commemoration Ceremony in Bogor Regency on Wednesday (1/7). The Head of State stressed that threats to the nation today are not only from conventional crimes but also from increasingly complex ones. Narcotics, online gambling, human trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism, corruption, smuggling, illegal mining and plantation activities, and white-collar crime were cited as issues that greatly harm the state. Nevertheless, Prabowo commended the National Police and other related institutions for their success in uncovering thousands of narcotics cases, eradicating online gambling together with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, and maintaining zero terrorism incidents in recent years. ‘I appreciate the success of the National Police together with other institutions in continuing to dismantle and uncover thousands of narcotics cases and, together with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, eradicating online gambling, as well as successfully maintaining zero terrorism incidents over the past few years,’ said Prabowo. Despite noting these achievements, the Head of State reminded all officers not to be complacent. According to him, the challenges faced remain significant because the public is still grappling with poverty triggered by corrupt practices, smuggling, and various illegal economic activities. Prabowo asserted that Indonesia is a state governed by law, so every officer must make the law a protector of society, especially for the weak. ‘The law must be the protector of the people, the law must provide a sense of security for honest citizens. The law must be a refuge for the weak. The law must not be sharp downwards and blunt upwards. The law must not become a tool for those with money. The law must not become a tool for political revenge. The law must not be used for the interests of any group whatsoever,’ he stated. He also warned against any practice of criminalisation or abuse of authority in law enforcement. According to Prabowo, no one should be immune to the law, while people seeking justice must receive protection. He stressed that the weakest people must be the priority in legal protection. Those seeking truth and justice must be served well, the innocent must feel safe, and every violator must be held accountable for their actions in accordance with applicable legal provisions.