SBY swears in new police commissioners

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono swore in nine members of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) who will serve in their new positions until 2016 at the State Palace on Monday.

Three of the members are ex-officio commissioners, namely Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto who will serve as Kompolnas chairman, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi who will serve as deputy chairman, and Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin who will serve as a commissioner.

The remaining six members, who were picked by the President out of 12 candidates proposed by a government-sanctioned selection committee, consist of representatives of the police force, academics, journalists, and activists.

They are Insp. Gen. (ret) Logan Siagian, Brig. Gen. (ret) Syafriadi Cut Ali, senior journalist Edi Saputra Hasibuan, University of Indonesia’s criminologist Adrianus Eliasta Meliala, law expert Hamidah Abdurachman, and NGO activist M. Nasser.

“In line with the President’s directives, we will have to utilize this commission to monitor and improve the performance of the police force amid the intensifying complaints from the public about wrongdoings and unprofessional acts by members of the force,” Djoko said after the ceremony.

Vice President Boediono and other Cabinet members such as National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo, Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Agus Suhartono, Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, also attended the ceremony.

Amir, one of the commissioners, however, did not attend the ceremony because he was out of town on official business.

Kompolnas is charged with overseeing and monitoring the police force to boost reform in the graft-ridden institution. The commission, however, has been widely criticized for its lack of independence and power. (nvn)