This is a comment on a letter titled "If the police force is a force for hire", (The Jakarta Post, March 16, p. 20).

The Indonesian Police is a force that runs itself without any supervision. They practice the law, they enforce the law, and yet they are the greatest lawbreakers.

If currently the police force is the most corrupt institution, affecting thousands of ordinary citizens every day, we have to address the system in our national police. Only with reform of the system can we eradicate all abuse of power by police officers.

Here are my suggestions:

First, the national police force should be under the Home Ministry, not under the President (as present).

Second, give the police the necessary tools to work with, like adequate manpower, equipment, salaries and education.

Third, change the law on the national police to reflect proper police procedures, written by experts who look at the history of the Indonesian police and adapt foreign police practices that are clean, professional and efficient.

Take, for example, the Australian or Singaporean police. You don't have to go to these countries and carry out so-called comparative studies to learn their systems.

Fourth, put a report mechanism in place so that every police officer (personally or the whole unit) can be reported if they violate the rule of law. Fifth, let us hope the Indonesian police can work as it is supposed to, but if not, replace all the generals with lower ranking officers, because the police may need a fresh start with their personnel. Sixth, decentralize the police force. Put them under the control of civilian heads of the provinces, regencies, or mayoralties. As we know, the police were trained using military doctrine and sometimes are more militaristic than the military.

Let us hope and pray there is a change in the police.

Mohammad Ali

Jakarta

Popular

Retail sales, consumer confidence ease as Idul Fitri boost dissipates

Students to rally against Prabowo amid economic pressures

Number of forcibly displaced people dips to 118 million: UN