Roesmanhadi calls for new police mentality and foreign study

JAKARTA (JP): Developing a new mentality and using study opportunities abroad rank among the calls for enhancing professionalism within the police force following its separation from the Armed Forces.

Antara reported on Wednesday that National Police chief Lt.Gen. Roesmanhadi has requested that Germany revive study opportunities for Indonesian officers, mainly to improve professionalism in detective work.

The report from Berlin said the request was conveyed to the Berlin police chief, Gernod Piester, by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso during a visit promoting their sister-city relationship.

Sutiyoso quoted Roesmanhadi as saying that several officers received fine training in Germany before the study program was discontinued several years ago. The demand for more training was greater today because the economic crisis made it impossible for the police to fund training, he added.

"The request from the police chief comes because now the police have a heavier task. They will face more complex problems, and they can no longer lean on the Armed Forces," Sutiyoso said.

On the 52nd anniversary of the Armed Forces (ABRI) on Oct. 5, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto announced the separation of the police from ABRI.

While calls for the separation had been raised from time to time, the police had increasingly borne the brunt of criticism among the security forces, including for the May 12 fatal shooting of four Trisakti University students and ensuing riots over several days.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Former home affairs minister and ex-Army chief of staff Rudini said last week that "demilitarization" of the police would include "development of their instincts to act as protector of the public".

Speaking at seminar on professionalism of the police in Semarang, the retired general said instead of "waiting for commands", an officer would be increasingly expected to serve and protect the public and act as law enforcer.

Another retired officer and former envoy to the United States, Hasnan Habib, said in Semarang that the change "from a military to a civilian mentality would require a long time" given the force's history. The National Police was founded on July 1, 1946, when it answered directly to the head of state, but it was integrated into the military in 1961.

Law professor and member of the National Commission on Human Rights, Satjipto Rahardjo, believed "the police will be expected to apply a humanist and preventive approach rather than a military approach" since the separation from the military.

Wiranto said the Police Force would be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense and Security for the first six months. Further evaluation will determine whether it should be under the Ministry of Home Affairs or answer to the president.

Satjipto suggested the Police Force be given equivalent status to a ministry or the Attorney General's Office, but Rudini said the police would ideally answer to the president. (har/anr)