Aceh – Indonesia, THE PROMISE of Police Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, the Police Chief succeeding General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, is hopefully more than just sweet talk that is too good to be true. One of his pledges is to end the phenomenon of cases only being resolved after going viral—the so-called “no viral no justice” trend.
“The public must be heard, respected, provided with explanations, and see rules applied consistently.” “The logic must change. It shouldn’t be: file a report, wait for it to go viral, and only then receive attention. Instead, it should be: file a report, get verified, handled, provided with progress updates, and resolved according to the law.” That is Suyudi’s promise.
Suyudi also pledged to optimize the police’s role, as well as refine and build upon the positive steps taken by his predecessors. This serves as an important signal that the police force will reform itself to put the institution back on the right track.
However, this will certainly not be easy. Suyudi will face immense pressure from both inside and outside the police force. There are many individuals, both internally and externally, who profit from various deviations that have never been truly rectified.
The issues within the police force are no longer just about individual rogue officers. The Indonesian National Police (Polri) faces systemic and cultural crises that have persisted for a long time. One major factor is the police force’s inability to shed its militaristic culture, which leads to a culture of violence and torture.
The lack of accountability, resulting from a culture of mutual protection and tolerance for misconduct, poses another major problem. This stems from dysfunctional internal oversight. In fact, some police officials have exploited internal supervisory roles for personal financial gain, disregarding justice for good police officers.
Suyudi must also confront politicians who seek to drag the institution into serving their personal interests—using the police as a tool of power rather than a protector of the people. Not to mention the financiers and tycoons who have long exploited police officers, from low-ranking constables to generals. This will clearly be no easy task.
Suyudi is certainly no outsider to the police force. He is not someone who suddenly received a three-star, and soon a four-star, rank out of nowhere. He fully understands the police culture and what has transpired within the institution over the past 15 years. He has lived in the very same ocean.
Yet, Suyudi’s ability to remain uncorrupted while navigating these waters is the key to restoring public trust in the police force. Suyudi must fulfill this mandate earnestly, in accordance with his oath under the Quran. He must become a fresh element within the police—a leader brave enough to amputate the decaying parts of the institution.***