Farouk Arnaz & Nivell Rayda – The chief of the National Police, an institution constantly battered by criticism, showed his candid side by offering an apology on Thursday for "weaknesses and imperfections" within his force.
He was less candid, however, when pressed to explain for what exactly he was apologizing.
"The public's expectations are very high, but we can't fully meet those expectations yet," Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said. "We are not perfect but we keep on trying to change the mind-set and culture of our force."
His apology came in a speech delivered at an event celebrating the 64th anniversary of the National Police held at the Mobile Brigade Headquarters in Depok.
His words might have been vague, but recent events could add more context. On Tuesday, a group of nongovernmental organizations said that dozens of documented abuses of power involving police officers over the past two years was a clear sign that reforms have yet to yield results within the National Police.
On the same day, the Asian Human Rights Commission said that torture and ill-treament of suspects in police custody remained rampant in Indonesia 12 years after the country ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Meanwhile, Indonesia Corruption Watch said on Thursday that it would report a dozen more police officers with suspicious bank accounts to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
"Right now we are preparing documents to support our claims," ICW deputy chairman Emerson Yuntho said. He declined to disclose names and ranks but said "it involves billions of rupiah worth of transactions, some cash and some bank transfers. We feel that there are indications of bribery," he added.
On Monday, thousands of copies of Tempo magazine featuring a cover story on the suspiciously outsized bank balances of six police generals mysteriously disappeared from news stands, propelling the issue into news headlines.
The National Police have promised to investigate the generals, but they have also pledged to sue the weekly magazine for defamation.
To begin fixing the problems within the police, Mufti Makarim, executive director of the Institute for Defense, Security and Peace Studies (IDSPS) said a precedent was needed.
"At least one of these generals with a huge bank account needs to be prosecuted. This is the entry point we need to see how deep corruption runs inside the police force," he said.
Al-Araf, program director of human rights advocate Imparsial, added that police should be banned from running illegal businesses and engaging in freelance police work.
He said many officers hold public shares in companies and provide "security" for businesses such as prostitution dens, gambling rings and illegal logging operations. "This is already a very well-known secret," he said.
A history of saying sorry
March 5, 2010 - National Police apologize to the Muslim Students Association (HMI) after several officers attack its headquarters in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Nov. 22, 2009 - National Police apologize to the family of the late Islamic scholar Nurcholish Madjid after police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri tells a hearing with the House of Representatives that the reason why the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has not arrested a graft suspect is due to the suspect's close ties with Nurcholish. Nurcholish was the father-in-law of KPK deputy Chandra Hamzah.
Nov. 2, 2009 - National Police apologize to the public after former chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji uses the term "geckos and crocodiles" to describe a dispute between the KPK and the police.
Feb. 9, 2006 - National Police apologize to the House after a surveillance order is issued for several lawmakers supervising field inspections of rice imports.
Oct. 31, 2002 - National Police apologize to Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim group, for the damage caused to one of its hospitals by police officers when arresting controversial cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who was being treated there. The police were involved in a scuffle with Bashir's supporters.