Yusril Pushes for Reform in Brimob's Use During Protests to Avoid Militaristic Approach

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Member of the Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP) and Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, believes that the use of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) in handling protest actions needs reform to prevent tendencies towards militaristic actions.

According to Yusril, this issue is one of the discussions within the Police Reform Acceleration Commission, which is preparing reform recommendations within the Bhayangkara Corps.

“The use of Brimob in handling protest actions was indeed discussed in the committee to prevent tendencies towards militaristic actions. In this regard, internal reform of the Polri is indeed needed,” Yusril told Kompas.com on Monday (11/5/2026).

Yusril explained that the separation of functions between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) is actually clearly regulated in the constitution and legislation.

He stated that the amendment to Article 30 of the 1945 Constitution has affirmed the difference in duties between the TNI and Polri.

In addition, the separation of the two institutions is also stipulated in MPR Decree Number VI and VII of 2000, followed by the birth of Law Number 2 of 2002 on the Polri and Law Number 34 of 2004 on the TNI.

“When discussing the Polri Bill in 2002, it was already discussed in depth that militaristic characteristics in the Polri would be abandoned,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Polri has functions of providing guidance, protecting the community, maintaining security and public order (kamtibmas), and enforcing the law.

Therefore, he continued, military approaches and methods cannot be fully applied in the police institution, from the education curriculum to practices in the field.

“Therefore, from the education curriculum to technical matters in the field, the methods used by the military (TNI) cannot be applied,” he clarified.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the Polri still has a “combat” element to a certain extent, particularly in handling terrorism by Densus 88 and armed riots handled by Brimob.

Previously reported, the Chairman of the Police Reform Acceleration Commission, Jimly Asshiddiqie, stated that his side recommends demilitarising the Polri’s work culture.