Sayidiman suggests special law enforcement ministry

JAKARTA (JP): Military observer Lt. Gen. (ret) Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo suggested here yesterday that the National Police be separated from the Armed Forces and unified with the Attorney General's office under a new department called the Ministry of Law Enforcement.

Speaking in a discussion on the dual-function of the Armed Forces (ABRI) held by the Center of Information and Development Studies (CIDES), he said police could work more effectively to solve crime under this new arrangement.

"It is important because crime has become much more sophisticated... Police (together with attorneys) must therefore concentrate on ways to improve law enforcement," the 71-year-old general said.

Under the proposed arrangement, the function of the Ministry of Justice would be changed to concentrate more on maintaining laws, he said.

He said that the new ministry would be a more appropriate institution through which to administer the changes than the Ministry of Home Affairs, given the latter's "political nature".

Some observers have suggested incorporating the police force into the home affairs ministry if it is detached from the Armed Forces, arguing that this would be the best way to meet the need for civilian security personnel.

Sayidiman, however, said the Pamong Praja civilian security officers who are, through the regional administrations, indirectly under Ministry of Home Affairs control, would be enough to the ministry's needs.

Under the proposed new ministry, the National Police would be developed into a respectable institution along the lines of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation and focus primarily on criminal cases, he said, arguing that duties such as traffic control should be left to other institutions such as the Pamong Praja.

"The National Police would then become more effective in handling drug-related crime, white collar crime and other types of modern criminal cases," Sayidiman said.

The separation of the National Police from the Armed Forces has been a subject of much debate lately.

Many have expressed a belief that the police force would be of a greater benefit to the public if it was separated from the Armed Forces.

The public discourse on this subject gained momentum after the National Commission on Human Rights suggested over a month ago that police should no longer be the "political tool" of the government and the Armed Forces.

The Commission said the police must be professional in serving and protecting the public, instead of being used as a tool to preserve the status quo.

The police were brought into the Armed Forces nearly four decades ago under the administration of then president Sukarno.

Separately, outgoing National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo also advocated the importance of giving the police force greater autonomy.

"I believe that police have to be given its autonomy by the government. I think that is the most important thing now.

"What I mean is that the national police has to be independent in determining budgeting, operational spending and planning. Our job is to enforce the law. We function as investigator. This kind of job requires fair and independent position," Dibyo explained.

Meanwhile former police chief Maj. Gen. (ret) Koesparmono Irsan said it was time "for the national police to a become non- departmental institution".

It is better if the police divorce itself from the Armed Forces and became an institution under the president's supervision, he said.

Koesparmono reiterated his view that the police have a different culture from other military forces.

"The police is a civilian in uniform... Unlike the military, police have more of a humanity factor," he explained.

Dwifungsi

On the subject of dwifungsi, the Armed Forces dual sociopolitical and security role, Sayidiman said it would be the responsibility of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to decide whether to modify this in any way or annul it altogether.

"Either decision will bear its own consequences," he warned.

Sayidiman suggested that the dual role be maintained, but with a scaled down socio-political function.

He argued that military personnel should no longer dominate the country's top political posts such as governors, regents and ambassadors.

"This will enhance our soldiers' fighting spirit because they will no longer entertain thoughts of becoming a regent or a governor, but instead concentrate solely on becoming capable military commanders," he said.

He also said that the number of seats allocated to the Armed Forces in the House of Representatives should be reduced to 50.

Armed Forces personnel do not stand or vote in elections but are currently allocated 75 seats in the House. (aan)