Polri Must Continue to Improve

· 3 minutes read

The National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have successfully safeguarded the five-yearly celebration of democracy on 17 April 2019.

Their success in protecting the world’s most complex election is inseparable from the strong camaraderie between National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and TNI commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. With calmness and composure, the two leaders successfully commanded their respective forces through the heated political climate across the country over the last few months.

We convey our appreciation for the National Police under Gen. Tito Karnavian. The police’s improved public image is visible in Kompas R&D’s series of longitudinal surveys. In the latest survey on 1 July 2019, 71.2 percent of respondents said they had a positive image on the National Police. Public satisfaction with the police reached 64.6 percent in their efforts at tackling crime, terrorism and riots tinged with issues of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup relations (SARA).
KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO
National Police Mobile Brigade officers ready riot gear as they are deployed on 14 May 2019 to secure the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta. The police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) joined forces during the heightened security at the KPU and other election bodies a week before the results of the 2019 general election were announced.
In terms of internal improvements in the police force, 33-39 percent of respondents believed that dealing with the police involved shelling out some money, that the police were prone to bribery and that they lacked neutrality. This must be taken as valuable feedback. Still, a lager number of respondents, 55-63 percent, believed that the police force had improved.
Comprehensive policies from President Joko Widodo’s administration are needed to tackle these issues.
We hope that the National Police will continue with its reforms and commit to introspection. Criticism of the police, no matter how small, must reach the ears of its leadership. Despite the public display of camaraderie between the top police and military chiefs, psychological issues remain at the grassroots among the two security forces. Inequality between their budgets remains a major issue. The ebb and flow in the discourse of the National Security Bill is a political reflection of this relationship. Comprehensive policies from President Joko Widodo’s administration are needed to tackle these issues.
In law enforcement, we encourage the National Police to resolve the issues that have captured the public’s attention. The treason cases related to the 21-22 May 2019 riots should be managed through legal, not political, mechanisms. Managing these cases transparently and accountably will engender public trust in the police force. Renewed zest is also needed in the investigations of several outstanding cases, such as the acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan, which has gone nowhere, despite the fact that the police have established a fact-finding team that they said would speed up the investigation.
KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA
Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers and officers of the East Java Police Mobile Brigade take part in a joint exercise simulating an election riot on 11 Feb. 2019 at the Brigif-2 Marine headquarters in Gedangan, Sidoarjo, East Java. The exercise was held to improve coordination between the two security forces.
We believe that, with their capabilities and professionalism, the National Police can solve these crimes that have grabbed the public consciousness.
Happy anniversary, National Police. May you continue with your improvements towards improved public trust. Happy Bhayangkara Police Day, 1 July.

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