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View all search resultsUnstoppable police reform
Now that the Constitutional Court has issued its final and binding ruling to bar active-duty officers from also holding a public post, neither the force nor the government have an excuse to delay police reform.
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A university student holds a poster on Aug. 29, 2025, during a protest against police brutality in front of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. (AFP/Aditya Irawan)
I
t seems as though the Constitutional Court has taken a whip to the National Police, herding them toward embarking on much-awaited reform, with its thumping decision to bar active-duty officers from holding concurrent posts in government. This means many officers must leave the force if they want to continue their government careers.
Among the police officers affected by the court’s progressive ruling are: Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Comr. Gen. Setyo Budiyanto, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Comr. Gen. Marthinus Hukom, National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Eddy Hartono, National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) chief Comr. Gen. Albertus Rachmad Wibowo, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry secretary-general Comr. Gen. Rudy Heriyanto Adi Nugroho and Law Ministry secretary-general Comr. Gen. Nico Afinta.
To show respect for the rule of law, President Prabowo Subianto, and more specifically National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, should immediately fire or replace all active-duty officers from government positions or order them to quit the force immediately. Complying with the law is a requisite for any effort at reform to succeed, including police reform.
The President has established the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission, comprising 10 figures including Listyo and three ex-police chiefs, in response to mounting calls for an end to years of police brutality and abuse of power.
The public’s demand for police reform culminated following late August’s nationwide protests that claimed at least 10 lives, which also resulted in the arrest of civil society activists for alleged incitement and disinformation.
Jimly Asshiddiqie, who heads the new commission that began work as soon as it was inaugurated on Nov. 7, said the court ruling had been discussed internally and determined that it would make the commission’s work easier.
Police reform is a pressing issue due to a complex combination of persistent issues related to accountability, corruption, rights abuses and waning public trust, especially during the presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
