Civil Society Coalition Rejects Swift Passage of Police Law Revision Bill in Indonesia

A coalition of Indonesian civil society organizations has strongly opposed the rapid ratification of the draft bill to amend the National Police Law (UU Polri). The coalition, comprising prominent groups such as KontraS, YLBHI, ICJR, and others, argues that the revision process was haphazard and lacked meaningful public involvement. They contend that the bill's content contradicts the mandate and spirit of police reform.

"The coalition strongly suspects a political power agenda behind the revision of the Police Law and believes this revision will not benefit the public, but rather close off avenues for improvement as demanded by police reform," the coalition stated on Tuesday. They further asserted that the swift passage of the bill proves President Prabowo's promises of police reform were "lies and empty talk."

The coalition outlined several key concerns. Firstly, they emphasized that the revision process should be transparent and accountable, allowing public access and monitoring. The lack of transparency, they argue, closes off equal participation between policymakers and the public. Secondly, the bill should not be rushed, requiring careful consideration to address public needs rather than creating new problems. Thirdly, the coalition criticized provisions that legitimize police officers holding dual positions without resigning, which they believe conflicts with existing legal mandates.

Furthermore, the coalition stressed the need to strengthen the independence and function of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) within the law, ensuring its position as an external supervisory body independent of the executive branch. They also questioned the increased retirement age for police officers (to 60-63 years), arguing it lacks clear justification and could hinder personnel regeneration without solving internal issues of member accumulation. Finally, they stated that Article 19A of the revised bill fails to improve police accountability, relying solely on oversight.

“

The coalition strongly suspects a political power agenda behind the revision of the Police Law and believes this revision will not benefit the public, but rather close off avenues for improvement as demanded by police reform.