The celebration of the 71st Bhayangkara Day today, Monday (10/7), at Monas Square, Jakarta, marks one year since the Indonesian National Police has been led by Gen. (Pol.) Tito Karnavian. A variety of praise has been conveyed for the National Police\'s work, starting from the handling of terrorism, a task force to sweep extortion, up to the Ramadniya Operation 2017.However, questions also remain, especially on the alleged criminalization of ulemas and the handling of the case of abuse experienced by an investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Novel Baswedan.
"I see improvements in a number of things, but there are still others which have not been maximal," said the National Police chief when interviewed by Kompas Chief Editor Budiman Tanuredjo.
The following is an excerpt from the interview last week with the National Police Chief at his official house in Jakarta.
Is the condition of the National Police ideal now?
It is still far from ideal. The ideal is when they are quite prosperous, professional in their duties, and most of all, the National Police can be trusted by the public. If the public trusts it, this organization will automatically survive and the life of its members and institutions can be healthy.
How long will it take to become an institution that is trusted and loved by society?
This is parallel with the country\'s ability to provide prosperity. I want the members’ remuneration, if possible, to be 100 percent, it is now only 57 percent. If it can be 100 percent, the members’ take-home pay will be above the basic needs so that they are adequate. When the need is enough, there is no need for them to do strange things.
Because of this, I have slowed the recruitment of police officers. I use zero growth just to replace those who entered pension age, others are empowered so that the budget provided by the state is not sucked up in salaries, but gives more support to their performance and the availability of operation funds so that they do not need to search left and right.
Police officers in the North Sumatra Police Headquarters have become victims of crime. How is the anticipation?
Conventional crimes during Ramadhan declined, but the trend of terrorism cases has been growing. Because this has been the case from the beginning, before Ramadhan various significant events happened, namely the Kampung Melayu bombing. After that event, I gathered all the high-ranking officials of the Densus 88 counterterrorism squad and the National Police Bomb Task Force, together with the National Counterterrorism Agency. I told them I did not want any more terrorism incidents to happen, to immediately take stricter measures.
From these steps, about 50 people were arrested, starting from Medan, Jambi, South Sumatera, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Bima, whose bombs were already ready. I hope these steps can suppress terrorism. However, it is unfortunate that events happened in Medan and Blok M (Falatehan Mosque) that attacked members of the police force.
Apparently, there are also changes in the pattern of attacks from bombings to attacks on police officers?
This trend is not only happening in Indonesia, but also abroad. Some time ago, we saw in London, England, the police were attacked in their parliament. The latest case was in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. There have also been several attacks against our police. In 2011, we will remember there was a suicide bombing inside the Cirebon Police Headquarters Mosque, West Java, during Friday prayers.
Ramadniya Operation
On this occasion, the National Police chief also explained about the Ramadniya Operation, which received a lot of public praise. According to him, during Ramadhan and Idul Fitri, the President called for price stability, a smooth homebound flow and return traffic, as well as stable security. The police were actively involved with other agencies to implement the order.
However, currently there are also questions for the police, for example, in relation to the alleged criminalization of ulemas.
"We dare to be accountable to the judicial process, but we also have restorative justice principles. Where there are processes that can be carried out outside the courts, especially with regard to other interests," said the National Police chief in connection with the ongoing investigation of a number of ulemas.
How do you reconcile the police’s relationship with the KPK, which had been poor a few years ago?
Since the beginning, I established an open relationship with the KPK. I went to the KPK to talk to the KPK\'s top officials to build synergy in the corruption cases. I made it known, we are ready to send the best young investigators to the KPK, including for joint investigations.
Then for our young investigators at the KPK, we motivate them. For those who are successful, we prioritize them to go to school. After they finish at the KPK, I expect them to become agents of change in places we consider vulnerable to corruption. Communication and cooperation with the KPK is quite good.
What about the case of Novel Baswedan, which has not been closed?
This case is in a rather difficult category. Why? Because duration was short and used the hit-and-run method. In our experience of handling cases, hit-and-run ones are much more difficult than cases with a longer process, such as robberies.
About Novel\'s testimony that mentions a general was involved, to what extent is the truth of this statement?
To this day, we are of the opinion that what Novel said is rumor, not fact. We will search for the rumor and if it can be a fact, we will do an investigation. If the rumor is not supported by facts, we will drop it.
Will you stay in the job until retirement?
I do not want to be here too long. It will not be healthy for the organization either, because I think the organization needs a new refresher. I think a few years will be enough. After that, hand it over to the more capable. If I may, I want to retire early. I want to relax and enjoy a less stressful atmosphere.
Not interested in politics?
I am not interested at all and have no political genes. Because the political genes is a constant tug-of-war, its enemies are many, so it adds stress.
