President guns for more police personnel

President guns for more police personnel

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Thursday he
would not rest in his efforts to strengthen the National Police
to 600,000 officers, three times the current number of personnel.

"There are 200,000 police officers nationwide today, which is
not even 1 percent of the nation's population. Ideally, it should
be 3 percent of the population, which is the general standard of
any country worldwide," Abdurrahman said in his visit to the
Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Headquarters in Kelapa Dua, south of
Jakarta.

"This will only be possible when our economic condition
strengthens. That's the only way we can make the living
conditions of Brimob officers better.

"I came here to see how my children were doing. I am glad that
the officers could receive me in just a couple of days. I thought
it would take at least one week. At least I know that Brimob
officers are always on alert."

The President, who is popularly known as Gus Dur, was
accompanied by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, her husband
Taufiq Kiemas, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rusdihardjo and
National Police deputy chief Maj. Gen. Bimantoro.

A National Police source believed the visit was a concerted
attempt by the President to gain the police's support.

"Gus Dur is a civilian ... that's what his recent visit to the
Kopassus (Army's Special Force) was all about. He needs these
people to back him up."

The President's speech was followed by a 15-minute question
and answer session.

An officer, originally from East Timor and part of the force
for three years, told Abdurrahman of the difficulty of contacting
his family after the province seceded from Indonesia.

"I love Indonesia, but I need to know where my parents are. I
haven't heard from them for so long, and I think it has become
difficult for Indonesians to travel to East Timor. What am I to
do?"

The President answered that he would be able to visit East
Timor once relations were fully established.

"In my recent visit several days ago to Dili, the East
Timorese expressed fondness, and a kind of longing. This
relationship will heal in a short time. You will be able to find
your parents soon."

In response to the comment of a woman officer of the need for
"liaison officers" in countries with high populations of
Indonesian migrant workers, the President said he would discuss
the matter with Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan. Most
of the country's migrant workers are sent to the Middle East.

On the lack of hostels and dormitories close to the Brimob
headquarters, the President said an officer serving his or her
country should not be forced to lease a home at his own expense.

"I will try to arrange some government-funded housing for
Brimob officers living far from headquarters. It won't be much,
but it's the thought that counts."

At the ceremony, Rusdihardjo tried to evade reporters'
questions about a request made in a recent top-priority report by
the inspector general of the Ministry of Defense, Lt. Gen.
Suharto.

In the report addressed to Minister of Defense Juwono
Sudarsono, Suharto requested intensive questioning of three
police generals concerning mismanagement of the National Police's
1999 to 2000 Crash Funding Program.

"I just received the news about the report recently. I can't
say much on the matter," Rusdihardjo said before walking to his
car.

"Look, the investigation will be done until we find who the
offenders are. That's all."

Suharto requested a more intensive investigation of the former
chief of the National Police, Gen. Roesmanhadi, the former
National Police chief's assistant for planning, Maj. Gen. Adang
Daradjatun, and chief of the treasury agency Brig. Gen. Darmadji
S.W.

"We must check to determine how deep their involvement was in
the stated corruption cases," Suharto said in the report.
Released on Feb. 28 this year, the report defined the
investigation period as from Feb. 3 to Feb. 18. (ylt)