Roesmanhadi calls for new police mentality and foreign study
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)
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)