'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