'The police still soldiers at heart'

'The police still soldiers at heart'

The Jakarta Police receive more money than any other police force
in the country, yet residents say they are still unable to deal
with crime and traffic in the capital. In conjunction with the
Jakarta Police's 55th anniversary on Dec. 6, The Jakarta Post
asked residents for their opinion on this much-maligned force.

Marthin, 27, is a lawyer. He lives close to his office in
Central Jakarta:

I believe the Jakarta Police are still in the transition phase
toward becoming a better force. But I doubt that this will happen
soon. It might take a long time.

Although the police are no longer part of the Indonesian armed
forces, it is clear that they are still soldiers at heart. We can
see how the police often opt to take coercive measures, an
approach familiar to the military.

I sometimes watch police shows on TV and the officers are
arrogant. The shows help the public see how incompetent the
officers are.

However, I'm sure the police have learned something over these
past several years. I suggest the police revise the curriculum at
the Police Academy and use this new paradigm: they are civilians
and their job is to serve the public.

Arvi, 22, is a student at a private university in West
Jakarta. She lives in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta:

You can spend a whole day just talking about the police, their
corruption and bad performance, as well as the problems with the
force, the whole legal system and their position within society.

I think there are two basic problems the government has to
resolve in reforming the police. The first is education. Most
people who join the force are school bullies who have neither the
money nor the brains to go to college or get a job.

The other problem is money. The government continues to use
the argument that it cannot afford to increase police salaries
because of financial constraints, giving the police an excuse to
extort money and accept bribes.

-- The Jakarta Post