ReJO Supports the Police to Remain Directly Under the President

JAKARTA - Jokowi's RELAWAN (ReJO) supports the explanation of the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo in the DPR RI Commission III Hearing (RDP), which emphasizes the importance of maintaining the position of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polri) to remain directly under the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

"The view of the National Police Chief is not only about institutional structures, but also concerns the architecture of the state, the effectiveness of law enforcement, national stability, and the leadership strength of the President as head of government and head of state," said ReJO General Chair HM Darmizal to reporters, Wednesday, January 28.

ReJO emphasized that the placement of the National Police directly under the President has a strong constitutional basis, as stipulated in Article 30 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution, which confirms the National Police as a state instrument that maintains public security and order and enforces the law. Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia, which explicitly states that the National Police is under the President.

"Thus, the idea of placing the National Police under a certain Ministry does not have constitutional urgency, even potentially giving rise to a new interpretation that is contrary to the spirit of constitutional reform after 1998," he said.

ReJO considers that placing the National Police under the Ministry will actually weaken the President's position in controlling the strategic functions of the state, especially the enforcement of national law, internal security, political and social stability.

"The president is the holder of the people's mandate directly. If the National Police is under the minister (who is the President's assistant), then there is an additional bureaucratic layer that has the potential to systematically hinder effective and quick decision-making, blurring the chain of command and potentially lowering direct accountability to the President," said Darmizal.

Furthermore, Darmizal explained, in situations of national crisis, social conflict, the threat of terrorism, or transnational crime, speed and clarity of command are key. The structure under the ministry is at risk of slowing down the state's response.

"We at Depimnas ReJO assess that the placement of the National Police under the Ministry opens up room for greater politicization of law enforcement. The Minister is a political position, while the National Police must stand as a professional, neutral, and independent institution," he said.

Still according to Darmizal, global experience shows that countries with strong presidential systems such as the United States, South Korea, and France, place the national police institution directly under the executive head, not under a specific political minister.

"This model has proven to maintain the independence of the investigation, the professionalism of the police, and public confidence in the law," he said.

In addition, he continued, after Indonesia entered the era of reform until the leadership of President Joko Widodo, the National Police has undergone a major transformation in transparency, accountability, system modernization and a restorative justice-based approach to law enforcement.

"ReJO assesses that drastic changes in institutional structures have the potential to disrupt the consistency of ongoing reforms, as well as cause unnecessary institutional shocks," he said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of ReJO M Rahmad reiterated that the National Police must remain directly under the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Every effort that has the potential to weaken the President's position in controlling security and law enforcement must be rejected rationally and constitutionally," said Rahmad.

According to Rahmad, the strengthening of the National Police should focus on improving professionalism, supervision, and public services, not on structural changes that are not urgent and risk weakening the state.