RI to build stronger police force
RI to build stronger police force
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has hinted that the
government will continue to strengthen the national police force
so that it can fight both conventional and hi-tec crime more
efficiently.
In his speech at the ceremony commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the Indonesian Police Force yesterday, the
President said that the continuation of the police's development
will be carried out "in line with the development of a
professional, effective, efficient and modern Armed Forces based
on the (financial) capability of the state".
Along with the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Police Force in
Indonesia is comes under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces,
making the national police strongly dependent on the Armed Forces
for their resourcing.
Due to its status, the police force has, for many years, had
to face the same chronic problems, including a shortage of
operational spending and personnel, low salaries and the
consequential poor welfare of police families.
Last week National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said the
government had agreed to allow the police, currently with a total
strength of around 178,000, to recruit 30,000 cadets for the
1996/97 fiscal year, which is about three times more than in
previous years.
The police force will also establish eight new provincial
commands this year so that all Indonesia's 27 provinces will have
their own commands.
According to Soeharto, the need for the continuation of police
development is meant to help the force curb crime.
"Rapid economic growth, the speedy development of science and
technology, the changes in the community and the influence of
foreign cultures could create criminal acts that we haven't
experienced before," said Soeharto.
"Crime is a threat to the people, civilization and human
nature. It hampers and damages development. Therefore it should
be prevented, warded off and solved."
Soeharto also urged the police to pay greater attention to the
growth of organized crime syndicates in the country.
"Organized crime is not only about a large number of groups of
criminals and the variety of their activities. They are now also
backed up with magnificent planning, control and organization.
"We all realize that developments we have achieved also have
negative impacts, which have to be attended to, particularly by
the police," he said.
The President, therefore, reminded the force to streamline its
coordination with other, related, institutions.
"Don't let a settlement of a problem create another problem
which is more difficult to solve," Soeharto said.
Several cabinet ministers, high-ranking police and military
officers, and representatives of the police forces of Singapore,
Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam also attended the ceremony at the
Senayan Complex east parking lot in Jakarta. It was livened up
with a series of attractions, including a parachuting display
from 50 members of the police and Armed Forces.
During the ceremony, President Soeharto also presented awards
to two police generals and four other senior officers for their
dedication to the force and unblemished record after 24 years
service. (bsr)
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