Activists Criticize Many Retired Entrance Of Corporations, Police Reform Commission: That's Their Right

JAKARTA - The National Police's Reform Acceleration Commission responded to criticism from a number of environmental activists regarding the many retired National Police officers who were part of the company's structure, especially corporations involved in agrarian conflicts and environmental destruction cases.

Member of the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission, Badrodin Haiti, said the input was part of a record evaluation of Polri reform, including the ethics of retired institutions after leaving the institution.

But Badrodin emphasized that retired journalists no longer have structural ties to the police. So, according to him, retired police officers have the full right to work in any sector, including in private companies.

"These retired people have become civilians, not bound to the police institution. So if for example he works for a company, it is their right," said Badrodin at the Ministry of State Secretariat Office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, November 26.

Even so, Badrodin emphasized that the role of former police officers working in the private sector must remain professional and not affect the side of the police, especially when cases involve the community and the environment.

"Ttu, of course, you have to think objectively, if they think objectively, they will both accept it, but if there is partiality, of course it will be a note that the police must act professionally and fairly," he said.

Previously, environmental activists from ICEL, Walhi, Greenpeace Indonesia, and the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago had an audience with the Commission for the Acceleration of Police Reform.

The head of Greenpeace Indonesia, Leonard Simanjuntak, highlighted the issue of conflicts of interest within the National Police, including the placement of high-ranking officers in various agencies and the involvement of retired officers in the corporate structure.

He assessed that the presence of retired National Police officers in companies, including those suspected of damaging the environment, became the root of the emergence of inappropriate support or protection.

"Regarding the many retired National Police officers who are part of the corporation. And this is certainly the root of the problem of protection or inappropriate backing for environmentally destroying corporations," said Leonard.

Leonard said the phenomenon affected the independence of the police at the regional level. The hierarchical police structure makes the voices of retired high-ranking officers continue to have an influence in decision making.

"It happened in many places in this republic, even in corporations that clearly violate the law," he said.