POLICE WATCH: 2009 FORCE'S WORST-EVER YEAR

Jakarta, Jan 7 (ANTARA) - The past year (2009) was the worst ever for the National Police according to a record kept by the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW).
"Before 2009, no National Police Chief was ever the target of mass demonstrations or public scorn. It only happened in 2009," Police Watch chairperson Netta S Pane said at the parliament building here Thursday.

The public rallied against the police in 2009 because the policies and attitudes of National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri often offended the public's sense of justice, he said.

As an example, Netta mentioned Danuri's policies and stands in the cases of Corruption Eradication (KPK) deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M Hamzah.

Police accused Bibit and Chandra of having received a bribe and abusing their authority but had difficulty proving the charges.

In a number of regions, police were known to have used violence against members of the public and this had greatly lessened the public's trust in the police, Netta said.

Meanwhile, Nasir Djamil, a House of Representatives (DPR) member representing the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said on the same occasion, the police had performed badly because of the "culture" prevailing in the force where the chiefs were often not behaving in exemplary manner.

The force also did not adhere to clear standards in punishing or rewarding personnel causing envy or resentment among members of the force.

Giving an example, Nasir said that in naming officers to key or strategic positions in the force, the main criteria used was not the officer's capability or achievements but whether or not he or she was a buddy or from the same class at the police academy.
To improve the police's performance, problems had to be solved in three main areas, namely structure, mentality and culture. "These problems are not easy to address, and can be solved only if there is a strong commitment," Nasir said. ***1***