Komnas HAM: National Police is a Civilian Organization, but its Public Service Has Issues

CNN Indonesia | Tuesday, 02/11/2021 06:52 WIB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –- Komnas HAM Commissioner Amiruddin Al Rahab said that the separation of the Indonesian National Police from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI), which is now known as the TNI, should turn it into a civilian institution with a satisfying public service culture.

He said this was related to the police's insistence on reform following a number of cases of violence by unscrupulous officers in recent times.

Amiruddin assesses that many parties, both within the National Police and civil society, currently forget that the Police are a civilian institution since they separated from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI) through Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Police.

“Many people forget that before the new Police Law in 2002, the Police were ABRI. What does ABRI mean, he is the same and congruent with the armed forces," he said in a discussion held by Imparsial, Monday (1/11) night.

“As soon as the law changes, the position of the National Police today is that of a civil organization. This is something that needs to be mutually agreed upon," he added.

With the change in status, said Amiruddin, even though they are armed, members of the National Police are law enforcement agencies, so they should have a different culture from the armed forces. Therefore, he said, the use of weapons should be the last alternative in law enforcement.

While referring to the Policing Law, Amiruddin highlighted three main tasks of the National Police. Each of them is law enforcement, public services, and handling in conflict areas, such as Poso, Papua, and several other areas.

Among the three, Amiruddin especially highlighted the task of the National Police in terms of public services. According to him, the public's anger towards the National Police in recent times is the peak of frustration with the Public Service of the Police which is considered not very satisfactory for the community.

"If you don't realize this, there are a lot of things like yesterday. Starting from Parigi, Medan, Tangerang. In fact, East Borneo is like that. Someone suspected of stealing a cellphone, was arrested by the police the next day and died," he said.

"It's a public service regardless of how problematic it is," he added.

Amiruddin assessed that the discourse of reform in the Bhayangkara Corps could only be done in two ways. First, improve the integrity of members; second, the Police are able to explain their main tasks to the public.

According to him, the public's anger in recent times should be a momentum for the improvement of the Police from within. Because, on the other hand, the anger also shows people's hope that the Police can change.

“Three weeks of conditions are an alarm for the police to fix themselves inside. Why, it turns out that at a certain level the public service has not run according to the expectations of the community and the provisions of the legislation," he said.

On the same occasion, the Daily Chief of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) Benny Mamoto said that the tradition of violence and seniority in the National Police was a legacy of the past when the institution was still under ABRI.

"If reformation is 98, count until the police law is born, meaning those who were educated, and graduated until 2000 were still formed with a culture of violence in educational institutions," said Benny, who is also a retired inspector general of the police.