Boni Hargens Warns Police Reform Committee May Stall Without Action

JAKARTA - The National Police Reform Committee received sharp criticism from senior political analyst, Boni Hargens. Boni assessed that the performance of the committee has the potential to be trapped in a paralysis of analysis condition, namely a protracted study process without being followed by concrete steps, thus hampering the rate of police reform.

According to Boni, the committee appears to be working slowly and with minimal transparency.

"The National Police Reform Committee faces a serious risk of being trapped in an endless cycle of analysis without producing concrete action because it works not quickly and is not transparent," said Boni in his statement, quoted on Friday, November 5.

Boni assessed that this condition was very detrimental to the Bhayangkara institution. He reminded that the positive progress of reforms that had begun under the leadership of the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, could be hampered. If it continues to slow down, the biggest concern is the loss of public trust.

"The declining public trust will create a distance between society and law enforcement institutions, even though both of them should work together in realizing equitable security and order," he said.

Worried About Becoming A Political Infiltration Tool

This delay and lack of transparency, continued Boni, opens up gaps for political interests interventions and infiltration. Reform that is not carried out openly has the potential to be used by certain groups to smuggle political agendas.

Political interests groups can take advantage of the reform momentum for their own agenda. The risk of infiltration of interests that want to replace the leadership of the National Police for political purposes is very dangerous for reform itself," he said.

If reforms are hijacked, he warns that the Police have the potential to lose their independence and turn into a power tool.

Police reform must be maintained so as not to be hijacked. The independence of the Police is a guarantee of democracy that must be protected," said Boni.

Core Reform: Work Culture Change

Boni added that excessive analysis without action could weaken the legitimacy of the Police. He emphasized that true reform is not enough just to rearrange the organizational structure or reposition of officials.

The essence of reform, according to him, is a change in the work culture that must rely on three main pillars: professionalism, transparency, and accountability.

"The true reform of the National Police is the transformation of the work culture from the top to the bottom, which in fact is being carried out by the current National Police Chief Listyo Sigit," he concluded.