IO – An attack on the District Precinct of Ciracas in the early morning of Saturday, 29 August 2020, resulted in the injury of two police officers and serves as a bad precedent for the two forces tasked with maintaining the security of this nation. Therefore, a member of the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat – “DPR”) of RI Commission I, Dave Laksono, requests that harmony between the National Army and National Police, as exemplified by the positive relations between the Commander of the Armed Forces, Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto, and the Chief of Police, General Idham Azis, does not simply remain at elite level. On the contrary, it should be maintained all the way down to grassroots level and stand as an example for all lower-level staff.
“We note that elites of the Army and the Police maintain good relations: The Commander of the Armed Forces, the Army’s Chief of Staff, Regional Military Commanders, everyone is fine with each other. Even the Army Commander and the Chief of Police can frequently be found together,” he said. “We need to review the indoctrination given in each of these institutions. Perhaps we even need to arrange joint patrols between the two forces or some other common activities that can bring the two together. Since the Chief and Commander are of one vision, why not the ones below?”
Similarly, Dave’s colleague at Commission I, T. B. Hasanuddin believes that an in-depth investigation of the incident is necessary. A lot of people believe that it was triggered by a gap in welfare, but he disagrees. “The police and the army have equal pay, family benefits, health benefits, and even performance benefits, according to the law. It’s all stipulated in the State Budget. In other words, the rights of the members of these two forces are about equal. There is no difference. What about additional income? Naturally, it would be different – but not at an organizational level. The difference lies at the individual level, and it’s only natural. Many soldiers or officers live sufficiently, others are well off, and yet others barely make a living. This is nothing to feel social jealousy over,” he said.
In order to prevent any such incident from recurring, member of DPR RI’s Commission III Didik Mukrianto urges the Army and the Police take the following four steps to forestall conflicts between these two important national security institutions: First, to strengthen institutional discipline and commitment, to ensure that all members discharge their duties and responsibilities properly. Second, the two institutions must perform integrated training and monitoring, which tie in to a strict and measured reward and punishment basis in each institution. Third, continuously strengthening and solidifying coordination and synergy in serving the People and the State. Fourth, to brook no tolerance and to impose sanctions on any of their members who are proven to have violated discipline, the law, or to have abused their authority.
“Unity, integrity, and institutional esprit de corps are necessary. However, these must become the foundation and support of the members when they discharge their duties and responsibilities, not misused for law violations and other actions to the detriment of the people,” Didik said. “The Commander of the Army and the Chief of Police should enact joint breakthroughs and policies relating to the training and monitoring of their men. Therefore, members of the forces become more adaptive, connected, integrating and collaborative in their service to the People and the State.” (Dan)