Comparing India's police to our police? No way!

Kornelius Purba ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Sydney   |  Fri, 02/29/2008 1:30 AM  |  Headlines

Our police generals apparently feel humiliated every time they see Indian movies broadcast on TV where the police characters often become the brunt of ridiculous comedy.

While police do also often appear as super-heroes, Bollywood often depicts police receiving bribes, getting beaten up by gangsters and arriving late at the scene of the crime. Essentially they are made to look like fools.

Since Indian films are frequently aired on Indonesian television, the National Police (Polri) leadership do not want these films to tarnish their name, brainwashing Indonesians who would compare local police with Bollywood clowns.

In short, our police are much, much better and more professional than the "Indian" force. Indonesian police are supermen and superwomen.

They are all clean and honest, even when their salaries are low. They are patriotic law and public order enforcers.

Corrupt police? Never! And if corruption is found, it most certainly would not be tolerated.

To show how serious they are, police have felt it necessary to assign a very special person, Ki Kusumo, who claims he has a supernatural power.

Police do not need to think about funding because Ki Kusumo will use his own money to finance an Rp 8 billion film (US$900,000) -- look how generous he is!

The film, titled The Police, will be broadcast throughout the country July 1, coinciding with the anniversary of Polri.

"This film will be very different to Indian films, which often depict police officers who always arrive late," said Ins. Gen. Aryanto Sutadi, in charge of legal affairs at police headquarters.

The general is perhaps forgetting Hollywood movies also often show police arriving late to arrest the crooks or rescue people. While there are some super cops, there are also many who fall short.

"In this film, we will explain how police handle cases. We will also show how police are punished when they make violations," the police general said Monday as quoted by detik.com.

I am a huge fan of Indian movies, but can only indulge my hobby when our daughter is not around. She teases me saying I have bad taste.

For Indian readers please do not be upset. I always laugh when I see stupid police in your movies, because I would never see this in local films. These officers also dance and often complain if they only get small kickbacks. It is so natural.

Many police dedicate their lives to serve and to protect the people. Many of them are heroes, but it's hard to deny that there are crooks everywhere including in the police force.

In Indonesian movies and sinetron (TV soap operas), police and military officers have always acted in a professional and dutiful manner. They never laugh or cry. They reject bribery (perhaps only in films). They always look serious. Even on police statues (in Bogor there are many) you can see their eyes staring seriously at you.

To be frank, my perception about our police is still very negative, and in all fairness I have a psychological disposition, meaning I tend to see all aspects negatively.

Just look at the police on the street. Traffic police officers working in front of the State Palace for instance. If you violate the road rules just a little, you will see for yourself whether I am too negative or not.

At the traffic lights in front of the Mulia Hotel, sometimes police hide behind the trees waiting for their next victim.

I am, however, familiar with one very friendly and hard working police brigadier. His name is Adiyono.

Almost every day, Adiyono works near Slipi intersection, near the Regina Pacis school. He shakes hands with mikrolet, minibus and bajaj drivers.

"He is the best policeman we ever met," many mikrolet drivers testify.

Also, lets not forget the Police Mobile Service for those who wish to renew their driver's license or vehicle registration documents (STNK). You can find them in every municipality in Jakarta, every day. They provide a quick and good service.

I don't know whether the police's image will improve after the film is aired, because as long as corruption goes on in the streets, a film will not be able to brainwash anyone.

Police have worked hard to maintain public security -- we should be thankful for this -- but it is also important to note that many people feel uneasy when police are around. They feel insecure, even though the main mission of police is to protect and serve the nation.

Anyway, for police officers who happen to read this column, please forgive me for these harsh comments. Please do look out for me on the streets, waiting for me to violate the road rules.

Nothing personal please!

The writer can be reached at purba@thejakartapost.com

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