Scrap territorial-command system to make police independent
<p>Scrap territorial-command system to make police independent</p><p> A major obstacle of democracy is the failure to make the
police an independent force of the military, says noted lawyer
and member of an independent body set up to probe recent
bombings, the Indonesian Forum for Peace (FID), Todung Mulya
Lubis.</p><p> Question: As a FID member, what is your experience in working
with the police?</p><p>Answer: In enforcing the laws the police tend to do their jobs
in a repressive military style. That's why there have sometimes
been victims. If we fail to establish an independent, clean and
respected police force, we won't be able to have real democracy,
uphold human rights and the rule of law. All these need the
crucial role of the police.</p><p>We now see the police trying to change their image. But only a
few things have been done so far. We should remember that the
police have many limitations.</p><p>There are only 150,000 active police officers serving a
population of 210 million people. In the United States, for
example, which is another huge country, each state has its own
police department. Here, the police force is centralized.</p><p>Q: What about their professionalism?</p><p>A: This is about improving education and training. In the past,
people who wanted to join the police force had to attend the
School of Joint Military Command which was heavily militaristic
in style. We need to have educational institutes for the police
to make them a real state apparatus dealing with law enforcement.</p><p>The police also lack sophisticated facilities and equipment
for communications and information.</p><p>Many international bodies like the International Monetary
Fund, the United Nations Development Program and other overseas
donors say that if Indonesia wants to be a democratic nation, the
police should be stronger.</p><p>I recently met with officials from the U.S. State Department
and Congress. I told them they should focus on Indonesia's police
force. Strengthening the police should be Indonesia's present
main agenda.</p><p>Without improvement, the police won't be able to finalize
investigations of recent bombings in Jakarta simply because they
don't have the capability. They are unable to investigate those
who should have been investigated.</p><p>Over 100 people could have been questioned in relation to the
bombing at the Philippines' ambassador's residence in Jakarta
last year, but I'm not sure that the police have investigated the
case comprehensively.</p><p>That's why the police should also have much more training in
handling terrorism. Bombing for instance, is not too complicated,
people can download documents from the Internet on how to make
bombs. Terrorism has become our daily threat.</p><p>Q: Do you think the police are powerless or unable to conduct the
investigations of the bombings?</p><p>A: There could possibly be pressure on the police (in the
investigations). If so, they are involved in a cover up (of the
case). Then, we wouldn't have to wonder why there has been no
results of the investigation.</p><p>FID got information that a person was held in relation to the
bombing in the Cathedral (in Central Jakarta) but later ...
unconfirmed information said this person was later taken by the
military. If it is true, the police are really weak.</p><p>Civil society should play a role in establishing an
independent police force. We can't improve the police overnight,
but it must be a priority.</p><p>Q: Do you think the military pressures the police?</p><p>A: There could have been military pressure, institutionally or
noninstitutionally. If the police can be suppressed, the future
of human rights and democracy in Indonesia is gloomy.</p><p>This is also about power. Some military officers are unhappy
with the separation of the military and the police (since 1999),
and that the police now (officially) handle security and order.
People in numerous places outside Jakarta have complained that
the police were powerless to face the military.</p><p>I agree with the idea to remove the Indonesian Military
territorial commands to spur the police to become an independent
force. So far, the police have been in the shadow of these
territorial commands.</p><p>Nonbudgetary sources and spending should be more transparent.
Some in the military are also unhappy with the reduction of their
role in politics. But it's best to have professional soldiers.
Just let the police and civil society handle democracy.</p><p>Q: What kind of role should civil society play in improving the
police?</p><p>A: Civil society should realize that a stronger national police
force will benefit them in guaranteeing any kind of democratic
rights. Society should empower the police to do so as democracy
can only work in an orderly and peaceful condition.</p><p>For instance, the police have the right to guard
demonstrations to avoid anarchy. But the police should not make
it hard for those who want to hold rallies. Also, people should
not think that the police are over zealous when they arrest those
who violate laws in a rally.</p><p>Such a condition needs a process, so civil society can be more
responsible and the police more persuasive.</p><p>Q: Has FID experienced any pressure from the military or police?</p><p>A: No. FID is an independent forum with no power or rights to
investigate someone. So, our investigating team doesn't interfere
with the duties of the police. But we are worried that the police
are not entirely independent, that they are under pressure.</p><p>FID limits its duty to the case of the Christmas Eve bombings.</p><p>Q: What has FID found so far?</p><p>A: We have had some preliminary findings, indicating that the
bombings are related to groups from Maluku, East Timor and West
Java. We are still investigating the types of the bombs, the
material of the bombs and the modus operandi.</p><p>We have proposed setting up a joint fact-finding team with the
government. It is still being discussed at the coordinating
minister for political, social and security affairs office.</p><p>A panel which includes the government, the police and FID, is
likely to be preferred by the government. I think such a panel
will become only a kind of bridge to connect the investigations
held separately by the police and FID. (I. Christianto)</p>
police an independent force of the military, says noted lawyer
and member of an independent body set up to probe recent
bombings, the Indonesian Forum for Peace (FID), Todung Mulya
Lubis.</p><p> Question: As a FID member, what is your experience in working
with the police?</p><p>Answer: In enforcing the laws the police tend to do their jobs
in a repressive military style. That's why there have sometimes
been victims. If we fail to establish an independent, clean and
respected police force, we won't be able to have real democracy,
uphold human rights and the rule of law. All these need the
crucial role of the police.</p><p>We now see the police trying to change their image. But only a
few things have been done so far. We should remember that the
police have many limitations.</p><p>There are only 150,000 active police officers serving a
population of 210 million people. In the United States, for
example, which is another huge country, each state has its own
police department. Here, the police force is centralized.</p><p>Q: What about their professionalism?</p><p>A: This is about improving education and training. In the past,
people who wanted to join the police force had to attend the
School of Joint Military Command which was heavily militaristic
in style. We need to have educational institutes for the police
to make them a real state apparatus dealing with law enforcement.</p><p>The police also lack sophisticated facilities and equipment
for communications and information.</p><p>Many international bodies like the International Monetary
Fund, the United Nations Development Program and other overseas
donors say that if Indonesia wants to be a democratic nation, the
police should be stronger.</p><p>I recently met with officials from the U.S. State Department
and Congress. I told them they should focus on Indonesia's police
force. Strengthening the police should be Indonesia's present
main agenda.</p><p>Without improvement, the police won't be able to finalize
investigations of recent bombings in Jakarta simply because they
don't have the capability. They are unable to investigate those
who should have been investigated.</p><p>Over 100 people could have been questioned in relation to the
bombing at the Philippines' ambassador's residence in Jakarta
last year, but I'm not sure that the police have investigated the
case comprehensively.</p><p>That's why the police should also have much more training in
handling terrorism. Bombing for instance, is not too complicated,
people can download documents from the Internet on how to make
bombs. Terrorism has become our daily threat.</p><p>Q: Do you think the police are powerless or unable to conduct the
investigations of the bombings?</p><p>A: There could possibly be pressure on the police (in the
investigations). If so, they are involved in a cover up (of the
case). Then, we wouldn't have to wonder why there has been no
results of the investigation.</p><p>FID got information that a person was held in relation to the
bombing in the Cathedral (in Central Jakarta) but later ...
unconfirmed information said this person was later taken by the
military. If it is true, the police are really weak.</p><p>Civil society should play a role in establishing an
independent police force. We can't improve the police overnight,
but it must be a priority.</p><p>Q: Do you think the military pressures the police?</p><p>A: There could have been military pressure, institutionally or
noninstitutionally. If the police can be suppressed, the future
of human rights and democracy in Indonesia is gloomy.</p><p>This is also about power. Some military officers are unhappy
with the separation of the military and the police (since 1999),
and that the police now (officially) handle security and order.
People in numerous places outside Jakarta have complained that
the police were powerless to face the military.</p><p>I agree with the idea to remove the Indonesian Military
territorial commands to spur the police to become an independent
force. So far, the police have been in the shadow of these
territorial commands.</p><p>Nonbudgetary sources and spending should be more transparent.
Some in the military are also unhappy with the reduction of their
role in politics. But it's best to have professional soldiers.
Just let the police and civil society handle democracy.</p><p>Q: What kind of role should civil society play in improving the
police?</p><p>A: Civil society should realize that a stronger national police
force will benefit them in guaranteeing any kind of democratic
rights. Society should empower the police to do so as democracy
can only work in an orderly and peaceful condition.</p><p>For instance, the police have the right to guard
demonstrations to avoid anarchy. But the police should not make
it hard for those who want to hold rallies. Also, people should
not think that the police are over zealous when they arrest those
who violate laws in a rally.</p><p>Such a condition needs a process, so civil society can be more
responsible and the police more persuasive.</p><p>Q: Has FID experienced any pressure from the military or police?</p><p>A: No. FID is an independent forum with no power or rights to
investigate someone. So, our investigating team doesn't interfere
with the duties of the police. But we are worried that the police
are not entirely independent, that they are under pressure.</p><p>FID limits its duty to the case of the Christmas Eve bombings.</p><p>Q: What has FID found so far?</p><p>A: We have had some preliminary findings, indicating that the
bombings are related to groups from Maluku, East Timor and West
Java. We are still investigating the types of the bombs, the
material of the bombs and the modus operandi.</p><p>We have proposed setting up a joint fact-finding team with the
government. It is still being discussed at the coordinating
minister for political, social and security affairs office.</p><p>A panel which includes the government, the police and FID, is
likely to be preferred by the government. I think such a panel
will become only a kind of bridge to connect the investigations
held separately by the police and FID. (I. Christianto)</p>