Symbol Of Law Enforcement Injustice: National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo Awarded 1,000 Flip-flops

The action of collecting 1,000 flip-flops for the National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo in 2012, as a protest over the case of a boy with the initials AAL in Palu in 2010. (Special)

JAKARTA - The principle of justice in law enforcement in Indonesia is often problematic. Many legal cases that do not have a high level of urgency are actually taken seriously. The case of a child at SMKN 3 Palu City who was accused of stealing flip-flops, for example. The student with the initials AAL was even sentenced to five years in prison. All Indonesian people were angry. They took the initiative to collect 1,000 flip-flops. As a symbol of injustice, he thought. The flip-flops also want to be given to the National Police Chief, Gen. Timur Pradopo.

Sharp down blunt up. that is the narrative that is often heard when talking about Indonesian law. Law enforcement indiscriminately, or all on the argument of a deterrent effect, seems to only apply to a limited number of people. that group is the lower class. Meanwhile, elites with serious crimes that cost the state trillions of rupiah were actually given light sentences.

Moreover, some of them (such as Gaius Tambunan) can wander in and out of prison for a long time. This is different from the case of Grandma Minah who took three cocoa beans from a garden in Banyumas in 2009. Minah's grandmother was immediately brought to justice. The threat of punishment is no joke. Six months in prison.

Another injustice most recently emerged from a vocational student with the initials AAL who was accused of taking flip-flops on a hammer in 2010. Malang cannot be denied. The flip-flops taken by AAL belonged to a police officer, First Brigadier Ahmad Rusli Harahap. A Palu District Court judge sentenced AAL to five years in prison for stealing sandals in 2011.

Collecting 1,000 sandals for the release of AAL. (Special)

In fact, the stolen flip-flops only cost Rp. 35 thousand. Many thought the verdict was unfair. Owners of law enforcement are considered to be wearing horse glasses. Alias does not want to see AAL who is still a child.

“The price of the sandals is only Rp. 35,000, but the penalty for the student named AAL is five years in prison. Is there justice in that case? Obviously not. Since the beginning AAL has been treated unfairly. According to his parents, the young student was forced to confess to stealing the sandals due to the mistreatment by the brigadier.”

“The legal process, from the incident to the trial, is quite long. AAL is said to have stolen the policeman's sandals in November 2010. However, he only underwent trial a year later, it is very possible that in the past year he had a mental disorder. This is clearly contrary to Law No: 23 of 2003 concerning Child Protection which mandates the legal process against children to take place quickly to avoid psychological trauma,” said Viktor Silaen in his writing in the Tabloid Reformata entitled S(K)andal Polri (2012).

1,000 Flip-flops for the National Police Chief

All the Indonesian people were angry with the injustice that was shown by law enforcement in Palu. 2012 was the peak. AAL was not imprisoned, but during the legal process AAL received unfair treatment. Therefore, the Indonesian people spontaneously collected 1,000 flip-flops. The plan will be given directly to the National Police Chief, Gen. Timur Pradopo.

The flip-flops were collected independently to the post: 1,000 Sandals to Free AAL. Those who donate flip-flops come from remote parts of the country. including from neighboring countries. On average, they are concerned with the dullness of justice in Indonesia. There is also a community organization that cares for children first to deliver a hundred flip-flops to the National Police Headquarters on January 15, 2012.

"This is for Polri Headquarters, we brought 100 flip-flops as a form of expression of the people's hearts. This is to remind the Police, actually this case is an important moment. Many children are in prison. There are still many cases similar to this," said Public Relations from SOS Children Village Indonesia representing KPAI, Budhi Kurniawan as quoted by Kompas.com.

Minah's grandmother who was found guilty of stealing cocoa in Purwokerto, Central Java in 2009. (Special)

The general public considers the AAL case a hard slap for law enforcement. They want the police to quickly introspect and not repeat what they did to minors. Instead of upholding the law, the police are considered to have slapped themselves in the face because they did not consider the trauma that AAL had received.

The anger escalated because he was also disappointed with the trial process. In one trial, the evidence (flip-flops) presented did not belong to First Brigadier Ahmad Rusli Harahap. This means that the child is found guilty without any evidence of stealing.

“The delivery of 1,000 pairs of flip-flops to the Indonesian National Police is a form of protest against the behavior of the wet servant. Just like when the public collected Rp 800 million in coins for Prita Mulyasari, who was asked to compensate Omni International Hospital for Rp 312 million because it was deemed libelous for writing an email complaint. The Supreme Court later acquitted him of damages.”

“Actually, for the case of the theft of flip-flops as well as credit, cocoa beans, and others – the police need not argue that criminal acts must be processed to create a deterrent effect. Prosecutors also don't have to make excuses: they are obliged to forward the case from the police. Moreover, the judge should not have convicted a child for stealing sandals,” wrote a report in Tempo Magazine entitled Coreng-Moreng Vonis.