Sayidiman suggests special law enforcement ministry

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)