It is no secret that public trust toward police has been falling, and the recent threats and the version of terrorism carried out by groups claiming to represent certain ethnicities and religions have apparently made things worse. Police, who institutionally have the legal right to protect the citizens from violence, have failed to do what they should to address complaints lodged by anxious citizens.
Arbitrary actions against nightspots, including crimes and violence, by certain groups of people carrying religious banners or claiming to be from certain ethnicities have become rampant. The police have been unwilling to take prompt and proper actions to stop them. If police officers happen to be at the scene, they usually take no action and just watch.
Not long ago a group of people vandalized buildings they believed were being used for religious activities. Both the buildings' owners and local police were helpless, leaving the impression that the illegal actions were legitimate. The police made no effort to prevent the group from acting further.
Such incidents have happened several times in many parts of the archipelago. Jakarta is not an exception.
The most blatant example of arbitrary acts by certain groups in the capital city was when members of an organization carrying religious symbols destroyed nightspots which, according to the organization's members, had become dens of prostitution and drug trafficking. Surprisingly, the police took no action.
The most recent controversies occurred when several artists joined a rally opposing the anti-pornography bill. Several artists reported to the police later that they had been harassed by radical groups claiming to be of a certain ethnicity.
One rally participant was shocked when a large number of strangers flocked to her house, chanting slogans in support of the anti-pornography bill and urging the artist to leave the capital city or apologize to the organization for marching in the rally.
Cornered, the artist tried to seek legal help, while the group continued its activities. It visited another artist, demanding that person's apology for joining the demonstration. Worse, the group members condemned participants of the rally, calling them immoral and vowing to "give lessons" to those opposing the anti-pornography bill.
When legal procedures were followed, the response from the police was another shock. City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said he wanted to summon a language expert (to correctly interpret the condemnation against the rally participants) before responding to the reports.
It was a little strange that, according to Gani, the police could do nothing without written reports from someone about the intimidation, terrorizing and other improper behavior. He said police would act only after destructive actions took place. Contrary to statements, not one arrest was made when a group of people claiming to be from a religious-affiliated organization attacked and damaged the building housing the office of the controversial Playboy magazine in South Jakarta.
The police's position on protecting the citizens from such groups' indiscriminate actions has been ambiguous, despite National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto's pledge to take tough actions against any form of thuggery or radicalism.
The unresolved and improperly handled thuggery and radicalism obviously became a special agenda item for the coordinating meeting among Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, Home Affairs Minister M. Ma'ruf, TNI Chief Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto and Gen. Sutanto. The meeting, which took place on Thursday, clarified that no individuals or organizations have the legal right to carry out violence against others. This means the law must be respected and properly enforced, and everybody deserves the same legal protection.
The ball is now clearly in the police's court. According to the coordinating meeting, Firman Gani has no more excuses not to fight radical groups.
The public impression that the police lack the will to face radical organizations will then fade away in line with the growth of civil society. In this way, the police can regain their lost public trust.