Mahfud MD: Police Often Have A Dilemma When Working In The Community

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the police must truly serve and protect the community and respect human rights. They are required to be professional but also wise in using their authority.

This was conveyed by Mahfud when he was the Keynote Speaker at the Komnas HAM event which was held online, Thursday, February 10.

"The National Police must strengthen its position as a civilian police by sincerely serving, protecting and respecting human rights," he said as quoted from his written statement.

Even so, Mahfud knows that Bhayangkara Corps personnel often experience dilemmas when carrying out their duties. Moreover, now society is more democratic, open, and easy to control.

"I understand that the National Police are facing a dilemma here, seeing the situation and development of a society that is more democratic, more open, easier to control, so it faces a dilemma, for example if you don't act you are accused of being irresponsible, but if you act you can be accused of violating human rights," said the former Chief Justice of the Court. the Constitution (MK).

One example of a task that poses a dilemma for the police is in securing a land conflict in Wadas Village, Purworejo, Central Java. Mahfud said that if the police kept silent what happened, they would be considered as omission, but when they did they were accused of being repressive.

"The case that is currently busy at Wadas, is that the Police are taking measured actions, they are accused of doing things arbitrarily, but if they are silent, they are considered to be allowing a commotion that could lead to victims," he said.

Seeing this condition, Mahfud then reminded the Police that they must act with the principle of upholding human rights.

Moreover, the implementing rules for implementing the enforcement of human rights by the National Police have been regulated in the National Police Chief Regulation Number 8 of 2009 concerning the Implementation of Human Rights Principles and Standards in Implementing the Duties of the Police.

In this regulation, members are required to carry out their duties or in their daily life to implement the protection and respect for human rights.

"There are at least five guidelines related to the principle of upholding human rights; (1) Respecting the dignity and human rights of everyone; (2) Acting fairly and non-discriminatory; (3) Behaving politely; (4) Respecting religious and ethical norms. , and morality; (5) Respect local culture as long as it does not conflict with the law and human rights," said Mahfud.

"That is why it is important to be guided by the principle of upholding human rights," he concluded.