Labor raises voice: Police under the Ministry is considered a threat to independence

President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSBSI) Elly Rosita Silaban. ANTARA/HO-KSBSI

President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers' Unions (KSBSI) Elly Rosita Silaban assessed that the arrangement of the institutions of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polri) must be carried out through a mature constitutional study, not driven by short-term political decisions.

Elly emphasized that the discourse of placing the National Police under the ministry has the potential to open up greater political intervention space for the law enforcement institution.

"The arrangement of the National Police must go through a thorough constitutional study, not a short-term political decision. Placing the National Police under a ministry risks increasing political intervention. This can actually interfere with the independence of the National Police in carrying out its duties," said Elly in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, January 27.

According to him, the position of the National Police, which is currently directly under the President, is appropriate and in accordance with the needs of the country, especially in emergency situations that require a quick response without having to go through the chain of command of the ministry.

"Currently it is appropriate, the National Police is directly under the President. When needed at any time, there is no need to wait for command from the ministry. This is important to maintain speed and effectiveness in maintaining public security and order," he said.

Elly assessed that the improvement of the National Police should be directed more towards strengthening performance, internal reform, and increasing external supervision and transparency, without having to change the command line of the institution.

"What is more appropriate is strengthening external supervision and transparency, not reducing the independence of the National Police. Our focus should be on improving performance and internal reform," he said.

Regarding cross-agency coordination, Elly said that this could still be improved through an inter-agency cooperation mechanism without having to change the command structure of the National Police.

"Coordination across agencies can be improved without having to change the command line of the National Police. Do not let structural changes weaken the strategic function of the National Police in maintaining national stability," he said.

Previously, the Secretary General of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers (KSPSI) Hermanto Ahmad assessed that the National Police under the leadership of Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo showed partiality to labor interests, one of which was through the establishment of the Employment Desk.

Hermanto said the desk helped solve various labor criminal problems as well as facilitating the redistribution of workers who were affected by the termination of employment so that they could return to work.

In a working meeting of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives with the National Police Chief and the Regional Police Chiefs at the Senayan Parliament Building, the National Police Chief firmly rejected the idea of placing the National Police under the ministry.

"I emphasize that I reject the police under the ministry," said Sigit.

The National Police Chief assessed that this step was the same as weakening the National Police institution, weakening the state, and weakening the position of the President.