Handling COVID-19, The Regional Police Can Be Removed

JAKARTA - Police officials are asked to be more serious about implementing health protocol policies in order to anticipate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

This was conveyed by Deputy Chief of Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Wakapolri) Commissioner General Gatot Eddy Pramono.

"If there is a police chief who does not carry out any good activities in community disciplinary activities or other activities in order to cut the transmission of COVID-19, just replace the police chief, if later the police chief does not work seriously, the police chief too, let's just say, we will replace the police chief," he said. Gatot in a press conference reported by Antara, Wednesday, August 12.

Gatot, in his direction to all the main police officials, said that handling COVID-19 is a humanitarian task. So that the implementation must be more serious, including the implementation of health protocols.

"Earlier I conveyed to the ranks, to the main officials, to the police chief to carry out their duties seriously, nothing to play with, there is no saturation for the police in supporting this policy, this is a humanitarian activity," he said.

Gatot also explained that the police cannot carry out the enforcement of health protocols and prevention of COVID-19 alone. Therefore, the Police will work together with the TNI and the government in enforcing this policy.

"This is done together, the National Police together with the TNI and the government. Take steps from persuasion to law enforcement," said Gatot.

The directive was delivered by Gatot as a follow-up to Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 6 of 2020 concerning Increasing Discipline and Law Enforcement of Health Protocols in the Prevention and Control of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).

The Presidential Instruction was signed by President Joko Widodo on August 4, 2020. One of the objectives is to provide legal certainty for efforts to prevent and control COVID-19.