Prabowo Agrees To The Establishment Of A Police Reform Commission

Illustration of the National Police (ANTARA)

JAKARTA President Prabowo Subianto approved the formation of a team or police reform commission. This approval was conveyed when Prabowo met figures of the Nation Conscience Movement (GNB) at the Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta, Thursday, September 11.

The meeting took place from 16.30 to 19.55 WIB and was attended by a number of national figures, including Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Quraish Shihab, Frans Magnis Suseno, Omi Komaria Nurcholish Madjid, Komaruddin Hidayat, and Laode Syarif.

"It was conveyed by the Nation's Conscience Movement for evaluation and reform of the police which was also welcomed by the President. He will soon form a team or police reform commission," said former General Chairperson of PGI Gomar Gultom after the meeting.

According to Gomar, this step is in line with the President's idea. "The hopes requested by friends are already in the concept, Mr. President. So the term is tit for tat," he said.

Former Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin added that the President also approved the formation of a post-demonstration independent investigation team, in addition to discussing 17+8 points of people's demands voiced by students, civil society, and various organizations.

"What we convey is well received by the President. In fact, he discusses in detail one by one the points that we convey," said Lukman.

Background Police Reform

The push for police reform has risen along with increasing public criticism of the performance of the National Police. Komnas HAM 2022 data shows that the National Police has become the most complained institution, with 861 reports out of a total of thousands of complaints of human rights violations.

A number of large cases have also eroded public trust, ranging from the Kanjuruhan tragedy, the murder case of Brigadier J, to the involvement of police officers in drug trafficking. Amnesty International's report states that hundreds of people have been victims of violence by officers for a certain period, including during the security of demonstrations.

In addition, the mechanism for internal and external supervision is considered weak, giving rise to impunity. Criticism is also directed at the authority of the National Police which is considered too broad, while accountability and transparency are not optimal.

Recent surveys even show that the majority of the public supports the total reform of the police, including improvements in the professionalism, accountability, and relations between the National Police and the public.

With this background, the formation of a police reform team by President Prabowo is expected to be a concrete step to improve the National Police institution as well as restore public trust.