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Listyo seeks ‘humane’ law enforcement, more surveillance
Top cop wants to set up ‘virtual police’, revive civilian security force
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Illustration of National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo. (JP/Mecca Yumna NP)
T
he recent House of Representatives confirmation hearing for National Police chief Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo has painted a somewhat contradictory picture of how the 51-year-old general will lead the force.
Listyo, who is known for his close ties to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has promised to promote a soft and more “humane” approach to law enforcement, raising hopes that he could finally put an end to rampant police violence.
However, his plans to intensify public surveillance across the archipelago, repurpose the civil security apparatus and create a new cyber police unit to counter online misinformation have sparked human rights and security concerns.
"A soft approach would be the main policing strategy for the National Police [during my tenure]. [I want the police] to be firm but humane in enforcing the law," Listyo told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. "I wish to transform the police force so they can meet the public’s expectations by prioritizing the public interest, enforcing the law fairly for all, guarding democracy and respecting human rights.”
Listyo, whom the House confirmed as the nation’s new top cop on Thursday, expressed his wish to bring the police closer to the public by prioritizing preventive measures, negotiation and restorative justice. He promised to address criticisms of the police, which have included allegations of corruption and the excessive use of force.
The police were in the spotlight recently after graft fugitive Djoko Tjandra claimed to have bribed two police generals so that he could avoid arrest while traveling to Indonesia. Under Listyo’s then-leadership of the police’s criminal investigation unit, the two generals, Brig. Gen. Prasetyo Utomo and Insp. Gen. Napoleon Bonaparte, were charged with bribery.
The police also came under fire for their excessive use of force while handling nationwide protests against the Job Creation Law last year. At least 411 people in 15 provinces fell victim to police violence, and 6,658 people in 21 provinces were arrested during and after the protests, according to Amnesty International Indonesia.
