Bagus BT Saragih – On the heels of a series of killings and attacks against police officers across the country, the police force have, once again, been criticized on their violent acts and false shootings, beside corruption and judicial mafia.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) documented the police were responsible for at least eight torture and power abuse cases within the past two weeks, killing seven and injuring 22 civilians.
Three of the fatalities were allegedly victims of false shootings while the remaining four were terrorist suspects.
"We deeply regret this trend. It shows that police reform, together with all policies and regulations supporting it, have been merely on paper while the police's violent and temperamental culture remain," Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar told a press conference on Tuesday.
He said the police reform, which began 13 years ago, failed to produce a clear outcome particularly in terms of manner, behavior and professionalism.
The last alleged misconduct by the police cited by Kontras was last week's shootings of Bontomarannu villagers in Bantaeng regency, South Sulawesi, which killed one civilian and severely wounded three others.
The police were hunting burglary suspects when they arrived at a gambling place filled with around 40 people. The residents fled, leading officers to shoot, killing Talla, 44, and injuring three others. The incident triggered villagers to attack the Ulu Ereng Police station.
Kontras deputy coordinator Indria Fernida said residents' attack on the police station resulted from a loss of trust and respect for the police. "Such incidents repeatedly occur despite the police's promise to reform themselves."
Days earlier, police officers raided a dormitory used by Papuans in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, in a hunt of perpetrators who attacked a nearby Internet cafe. Indria said the police arrested 12 people without warrant and witnesses testified that the police also shouted "rude and racist words".
Late last month, Muhammad Dermawan, an office boy of Bank BRI in Medan, North Sumatra, was shot dead by a police officer. First Brig. Vico Panjaitan, who was guarding a car carrying bank notes and jokingly pointed his rifle at Dermawan. The gun fired, killing the office boy. The Medan Police have detained Vico and charged him with murder.
Kontras urged National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo to take serious measures to end police violence and brutality.
"Impose the maximum punishment on police officers who are proven guilty," Haris said, adding that the force should improve internal supervision and avoid impunity among unscrupulous police officers.
A recent study by human rights group Imparsial, released last month, said between 2005 and 2010 there were 135 cases of violence by police officers against civilians.
The police have been hit with a series of attacks. Six policemen were shot dead by criminals since January.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said: "Every crime perpetrator, be they policemen or not, will face legal charges in accordance with the law".