The Entry Of The National Police Chief In The Reform Committee Is Considered Counterproductive And Potentially Weakening Kompolnas

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo when he was inaugurated was a member of the National Police Reform Acceleration Committee. (doc the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA Police observer from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Bambang Rukminto, assesses that the entry of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo in the National Police Reform Committee is considered counterproductive to the spirit of reform and has the potential to weaken the National Police Commission (Kompolnas).

"With such composition, it can be perceived as a delegitimation of the existing National Police Commission. Because its composition instead of strengthening the role of the community, it is dominated by high-ranking police officers and former National Police officials," he said, Sunday, November 9.

According to him, with the existing composition, the formation of the National Police Reform Committee has actually become an anticlimactic of the demands of the National Police reform which has been voiced by the public. The domination of community representatives should be needed in the team. Ideally, there must be more representatives from the community. Not representatives from the government and the National Police," he continued.

Bambang said that the main problem with the National Police so far is not only regarding the behavior of the apparatus, but also the issue of organizational structure and culture that has not changed fundamentally because the Police cannot ensure that instruments are made and carried out in an accountable and consistent manner.

He emphasized that the National Police Reform Committee should prioritize the improvement of external structures and supervision so that transformation within the National Police can run more effectively. This means that the National Police Reform Committee must make formulas related to the National Police structure, including external supervision, namely a better Kompolnas so that the transformation of the National Police can run faster and on target," he said.

Bambang stated that the involvement of the police chief in the committee structure was also considered to weaken the independence of the institution, as well as show that the Police have the power of negotiations in this team.

The inclusion of the police chief's name on the committee shows Listyo's bargaining position is very strong. It's hard to believe that the Reform Committee is truly independent and provides objective recommendations," he explained.

Bambang added that the strategic position of the National Police in national politics also affected the direction of the formation of the committee. Given, the issue of a 'brown party' has a big role in the last election.

"The position of the Police in politics is very strategic, and it has been proven in the last few elections and the emergence of the issue of 'match'. And it can be interpreted that there are indications of the interest of power to maintain the position of the police quo status for the benefit of the 2029 election," he said.