Jakarta – The Indonesian military relinquished command of the police force Thursday as part of a government push to reform the armed forces, which have been tainted by charges of corruption and human rights abuses.

At a ceremony at his headquarters, military chief Gen. Wiranto said the move would make the police more independent in line with Indonesia's efforts to shed the authoritarian legacy of former President Suharto.

The overhaul of the 187,000-member police is expected to take two years, and some officers may be reluctant to give up old methods. On Wednesday, police clashed with student activists in Jakarta during an anti-government protest. At least nine demonstrators were injured. "We hope the police will change in their attitude and behavior, based on their function and role as the protector of the people," Wiranto told 1,000 police and soldiers in brown and green uniforms.

A military official handed the police flag to an official from the defense ministry, which will take over command of the police. Critics complained the transfer of power was cosmetic because Wiranto is defense minister and will therefore remain head of the police.

"As long as they are still under the control of [the defense ministry], the move has no significance," said Hendardi, chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Association, a human rights group.

J.E. Sahetapy, an attorney and expert on criminal law, said the separation should be swifter and that the police should be placed under the command of President B.J. Habibie.

The police force, which has received military training since Suharto rose to power in the 1960s, has long been accused of graft and other abuses. Since the downfall of Suharto in May, outnumbered police have often stood by during chronic rioting that has hit many areas in the Southeast Asian nation of 210 million people.

The police are expected to play a major role in efforts to maintain security during political campaigning ahead of parliamentary elections June 7.