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New police chief pledges to push for more institutional reforms
Dian Kuswandini , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/03/2008 7:08 AM | Headlines
Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri was officially sworn in by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Tuesday as the new National Police chief.
Bambang, who attained his four-star promotion a day earlier, replaces Gen. Sutanto, who began his retirement on Sept. 30. Bambang will serve as National Police chief until 2010.
After the ceremony, the 56-year-old general reaffirmed his commitment to push for an institutional reform within the police force, particularly in improving the force’s image.
“Internal reform is at the top of my concerns. Disciplining disgraced police officers is our top priority,” Bambang said. “Stricter sanctions will be imposed on such officers with no exceptions, no matter their rank.”
Bambang said internal reform was needed to raise police performance in general. Such internal reform, he went on, should start with monitoring police performance on the streets and in public service centers, where illegal fees are often levied.
“Scrapping (bad) practices in these areas would prevent other unwanted behavior,” he said.
He explained he would set up a special team, comprising the police’s intelligence unit and professionalism and security division, to tackle the problem of illegal fee demands.
Bambang also said he would continue programs started by Sutanto, including tackling gambling, illegal logging, illegal fishing, illegal mining, corruption, drug abuse and security threats.
“I will not tolerate a gambling center like that in the Genting Highlands resort (in Malaysia),” he stressed.
Bambang will take up office after a transfer of command from Sutanto on Oct. 9 in a ceremony at the Mobile Brigade headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, south of Jakarta. Until that time, police chief duties will be undertaken by deputy chief Comr. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara.
Bambang, who previously served as chief of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, has handed over the reins of this unit to deputy Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko.
The only candidate nominated by the President to lead the National Police, Bambang secured support from all 10 factions at the House of Representatives’ Commission III last week with positive comments. A graduate of the National Police Academy in 1974, Bambang’s stellar track record includes his achievements in arresting former State Intelligence deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono as a suspect in the 2004 murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.
While serving as North Sumatra Police chief, Bambang drew praise for successfully ordering the arrest of major illegal logging suspect Adelin Lis.
Following Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony, Sutanto was full of praise for his successor.
“I believe Bambang can continue all the efforts I’ve made so far,” he said.
Sutanto said he had yet to decide what to do after retiring. There is a possibility he may be posted as an ambassador, such as previous police chiefs Da’i Bachtiar and Rusdihardjo, who served as envoys to Malaysia. Failing that, Sutanto may serve as the new president commissioner of state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina.
“I know my ability and capacity. I don’t think I have the ability needed for those positions, whether as ambassador or commissioner,” he said.
Firdaus alma (not verified) — Mon, 10/06/2008 - 9:31pm
for more than 3 centuries our nations mind were so much ruined by the colonialism brouhgt by the dutch. how they screw all aspect of life of our nation, the mentality of bribery,corrupt,and so on that they implement to fullfilled their goal of the"devide at impera"
plus a deep pressured life of more than 30 years during Suharto,s era.
What do we expect? as no one had enough nerve to change the KUHP,the past ten years was not bad at all for the police department to prove their improvement.
Failure ofcourse happenned here and there,but the strong determination to change is yet shown enough.
Keep doing the good work pak Bambang. We'll be your whitnesses.
Mike (not verified) — Sat, 10/04/2008 - 11:47am
I think that the whole nation will applaud such reforms if Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri can in fact pull it off. I am sure there are good police officers out there, but nobody seems to have met one of them. Almost everyone has a story to tell about how they have been badly treated by police, usually because of a traffic violation, and usually ending in a fee being paid by the roadside. Most will say that they would prefer to have no dealings with the police at all, because their involvement usually makes matters worse and leads to 'fees' having to be paid to get a service. A good place to start would be to instill into the police psyche that they are public servants and not public controllers, and for every officer to have integrity and take pride in carrying out their duties. The police should be always available to protect and help law abiding citizens. Would not every officer feel proud to be genuinely respected in their position and role within the community, and not feared and avoided as is generally the case now.
Stephan amsterdam (not verified) — Sat, 10/04/2008 - 1:57am
the cops will never change , it will take generations .. bribes are normal here and cops will rather put some money in the pocket than write 'tilang' , i hope it will change ,but i don't think i will live to see that :)
F. Richardson - Opentrial (not verified) — Fri, 10/03/2008 - 5:01pm
Until the police are cleansed of corruption and violence no court verdict is safe in Indonesia and, therefore, under no circumstances should the one final and non-reversable punishment, the death penalty, be meted out. Let's hope that Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri can eradicate abuse of law enforcement such that truth and justice for Indonesians become achievable goals.
Adi kusuma (not verified) — Fri, 10/03/2008 - 10:30am
As ordinary people, I will support the internal reformation action that will be taken by Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri in order to improve the service and police image. The improvement should be initially in culture and structure. The culture reformation should have changed the bad culture and eradicating illegal income and bribery culture in all police service center, including in traffic police service center. The first reformation initiative should come from the top rank/leader and then follow by the middle level until the lower level. Police leader should use the budget properly so that private usage can be avoided. All budget for the police members/lower level should be allocated properly without reducing to avoid illegal income and bribery case in lower level police.