Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition is demanding that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto be serious about reforming the Indonesian National Police (Polri). Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur has again questioned Prabowo's intention to reform the police asking whether it is just a gimmick or if he is serious about it.
"We responded positively to the president's intentions and statements, but the question is whether it's merely a gimmick, a response to the visit by figures assembled under the GNB or a deep and serious awareness of the problems with the police at the moment", said Isnur at a press conference on Monday September 15.
Isnur stated that there are three things that could answer this question, whether the government is serious or not about carrying out police reform.
First, Isnur stated that the Polri reform team must have effective authority, and that the results of its work should not be merely reports that will then be ignored by the government. "But the study and recommendations from this reform team must be binding, seriously implemented and have a comprehensive impact", he said.
Second, Isnur also urged the team to be led by a competent individual with a proven track record on police reform issues. He requested that the team be staffed with individuals of high integrity and represent both civil society and academia, ensuring it is free from potential conflicts of interest.
"We would doubt it if it's from within the police force or the Kompolnas [National Police Commission]. We doubt it would be substantive because of conflicts of interest", he said.
Then finally, Isnur requested that the national police reform agenda be implemented transparently from the beginning of the process to the final outcome. He stated that numerous studies have been conducted by various parties on the importance of this reform, and the government should use them as a basis.
"Don't cherry pick, don't hide some things and highlight others", he said.
Isnur also stated that these three things are absolute requirements that would demonstrate the government's seriousness in reforming the National Police.
"If these three things aren't met from the start, we'll say you're just omon-omon [a phrase popularised by Prabowo meaning empty talk] Pak [Mr] Prabowo, we would doubt this will seriously resolve the police's problems", he said.
The issue of forming a National Police Reform Team (Tim Reformasi Polri) arose after Prabowo held a dialogue with the National Conscience Movement (GNB) at the Presidential Palace on Friday September 12. GNB member Reverend Gomar Gultom stated that Prabowo welcomed their aspirations on police reform.
"Earlier it was also conveyed by the National Conscience Movement the need for police evaluation and reform, which the Pak President welcomed and he will immediately form a police reform team or commission", Gultom said after the meeting. (mnf/dal)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Koalisi Sipil Tuntut Keseriusan Prabowo Lakukan Reformasi Polri".]
