The Jakarta Post, December 31, 2003
Police focus only on high-profile cases: NGO
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite the praise the police have earned from the international community in solving
several bombing cases, many low profile cases are left unsolved as the year 2003
comes to a close.
A non-government organization, Police Watch, said the police had also still yet to live
up to the public's expectations following their formal separation from the military (TNI).
"We must acknowledge what the police have achieved during the year," chairman
Rashid H. Lubis said on Tuesday, citing the Bali bombings in October 2002 and the
JW Marriott Hotel bombing in August this year.
"However, according to our survey, many problems such as the continuing conflict
between police and TNI personnel, increasing crimes committed by police personnel
and the handling of corruption cases still mar police performance," Lubis said. He
cited at least seven clashes involving police and military personnel this year.
"These conflicts are caused both by inconsistencies in Law No. 2/2002 on National
Police and also the mentality of the police following their separation from TNI," said
Lubis.
He said the law stipulated that the police should have authority over internal security
and that TNI should handle external threats. However, the law also states that the TNI
could help the police if requested, in handling a conflict area, he said. "This
opportunity is used by the TNI to take the control in the field. And the police are not
yet able to lead the TNI personnel," said Lubis.
Lubis also said that the achievement of a professional police force was still far off as
the police had only been concentrating on big cases. This obviously does not fulfill
their objective to serve and protect the people.
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the police internal review this
year revealed an increase in crimes.
"Conventional crimes have not risen, but crimes such as kidnapping have increased
by 25 percent, murder by 3 percent and robbery with violence by 10 percent, while
transnational crimes have also increased. Drug trafficking and abuse increased by
21.6 percent," said Da'i.
He said that terrorism-related cases decreased by 22.8 percent if one compared the
figures to 2002. However, the threat of terrorism still looms large as many suspects
have not been apprehended.
"Although the trend in terror attacks has decreased, they pose a potential threat
because many masterminds such as Azahari and Noordi Moh Top are still fugitives,"
Da'i said.
He said police would likely face similar crimes in 2004 and stressed that
"non-conventional" crimes would increase significantly.
"We also have given special attention to crimes committed in conflict areas such as
in Aceh, Maluku, Papua and Poso (Central Sulawesi). We are trying hard to stop the
conflict in Poso from resurfacing because this conflict has lasted for years. I think the
people are fed up and so it will help us create a situation conducive to peace," Dai
added.
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