President Prabowo’s decision to approve the establishment of a Police Reform Commission represents an important momentum for the promotion of human rights, the strengthening of Indonesian democracy, and the restoration of professionalism within the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the broader security sector, particularly the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The various incidents demonstrating police repressiveness and the excessive use of force in handling demonstrations at the end of last August are, in essence, recurring problems that have persisted since the beginning of the Reformasi era.
These recurring problems stem from a deeply rooted culture of violence and the practice of impunity. The transformation of Polri (note: SETARA Institute uses the term “Police Transformation” in its comprehensive 2024 study) has become increasingly urgent, considering that police performance in public service delivery and law enforcement has frequently been the subject of intense public criticism, giving rise to social media movements such as #PercumaLaporPolisi (#ReportingToThePoliceIsPointless), #SatuHariSatuOknum (#OneRogueOfficerEveryDay), and #NoViralNoJustice.
First, efforts to strengthen Polri through reform must also be understood as efforts to strengthen a democratic security system that is subject to the rule of law and respectful of human rights. Every agenda to build the professionalism of Polri goes hand in hand with the agenda of strengthening the professionalism of the TNI. Creating space to strengthen the police means closing the space for the expansion of militarism into sectors beyond national defense.
Second, in its comprehensive study on Police Transformation, SETARA Institute identified 130 current issues that have emerged and become embedded within Polri, resulting in the stagnation of police transformation. These 130 issues were subsequently grouped into 12 thematic areas requiring systemic responses from the institution, including oversight of Polri, accountability in law enforcement processes, accountability in the use of firearms, sentencing orientation and the interpretation of public security and order, community protection and public service performance, accountability of public service functions, and the governance of police education.
The urgency of such systemic responses is further reinforced by the quantification of these issues through a survey of 167 experts conducted as part of the study. Among the findings, 61.6 percent, or the majority of experts, assessed public trust in Polri’s performance of its duties and functions as poor. Only 16.8 percent considered it good. Furthermore, a majority of experts, or 49.7 percent, stated that Polri’s contribution to safeguarding Indonesian democracy was poor, while only 19.8 percent assessed it positively.
The study also found that 51.2 percent, or the majority of experts, considered the implementation of democratic and humane policing to be poor, while only 19.9 percent rated it as good. Meanwhile, regarding the integrity of Polri in law enforcement, a majority of experts, or 58.7 percent, also assessed it as poor. Only 16.6 percent considered it good.
Third, in support of the police transformation agenda, SETARA Institute developed a comprehensive transformation framework. The framework is built upon four pillars as the foundation for police reform: a Democratic and Humane Police, a Police Institution with Integrity and Anti-Corruption Values, a Proactive and Modern Police, and a Precision-Oriented and Transformative Police.
Based on these four pillars, SETARA Institute formulated and recommended 12 thematic police transformation agendas. Under the Democratic-Humane Pillar: (1) building a humane police institution that upholds human rights; (2) establishing strong, participatory, and multi-layered oversight mechanisms; and (3) creating an inclusive and gender-responsive police institution. Under the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Pillar: (1) ensuring fair and just law enforcement; (2) building a police institution free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN); and (3) strengthening the institutional independence of Polri.
The Proactive-Modern Pillar includes: (1) developing a professional and modern institution; (2) ensuring a sense of security for all members of society; and (3) building a transparent, accountable, and responsive institution that meets public needs. Meanwhile, the Precision-Transformative Pillar includes: (1) developing high-quality police personnel who are adaptive, prepared to face future challenges, and capable of earning public trust and confidence; (2) reforming police education governance to produce qualified and professional police officers; and (3) strengthening synergy and collaboration across institutions.
In implementing these 12 police transformation agendas, SETARA Institute has also developed 24 implementation strategies accompanied by 50 detailed action plans. The complete action plans can be accessed through this link.
Fourth, the transformation of Polri is an urgent prerequisite for restoring public trust, strengthening the legitimacy of the rule of law, and protecting democratic space from repressive practices. A modern and humane police institution can serve as an important catalyst for creating a healthy and inclusive democratic environment. Respect for human rights in law enforcement will strengthen public trust, while fair law enforcement will provide certainty for economic development. Therefore, the role of Polri should not be viewed merely as that of a security institution, but rather as a strategic institution that supports Indonesia’s transformation toward Golden Indonesia 2045.
Fifth, strengthening Indonesian democracy and reforming the security sector are central agendas for reinforcing civilian supremacy. From this perspective, the President should position police reform and military reform as twin agendas that are inseparable. The police transformation agenda is intended to ensure that domestic security is managed by a democratic and accountable civilian institution. Meanwhile, military reform is intended to ensure that the armed forces are fully returned to their constitutional mandate in the field of national defense. In this context, President Prabowo must also give serious attention to completing the unfinished agenda of military reform, ranging from enforcing the prohibition of military business activities to revising the Military Court Law.
Contact Persons:
- Ikhsan Yosarie, Human Rights and Security Sector Reform Researcher, SETARA Institute
- Merisa Dwi Juanita, Human Rights and Security Sector Reform Researcher, SETARA Institute
- Azeem Marhendra Amedi, Law and Constitutional Researcher, SETARA Institute