TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commissioner for the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Beka Ulung Hapsara, said that the police institution tends to neglect the input and recommendations coming from the commission regarding allegations of human rights violations that involve police personnel.

According to Beka, Komnas HAM has repeatedly filed several recommendations for the police to avert from repressive actions and violence.

“But the recommendations are being neglected. [as if they did it] intentionally,” said Beka to Tempo on Monday.

Komnas HAM claims they had sent a number of recommendations to the police advising the institution to solve 744 police reports that allegedly involves the institution. The reports often accuse the police institution of delaying police inquiries, conduct criminal acts, and being involved in acts of violence.

The Komnas HAM also claims the police institution and its personnel were massively involved in acts of violence at a massive scale during the May 21 - May 23, 2019, mass demonstration in downtown Jakarta.

“I do not want to attribute [the police institution] as the worst institution, but the facts remain that the Indonesian National Police is the most complained about in Komnas HAM reports,” said Beka.

The same sentiment was heard from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Asfinawati who mirrored the same statement as Beka by placing the National Police institution as the most reported institution in terms of alleged repressions. “This may be possible due to the lack of sufficient external and internal supervisors towards the police institution,” said Asfinawati.

National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Awi Setiyono responded to the criticism by the two watchdogs by thanking the inputs and recommendations and explained that police are supervised by organizations such as the national police commission (Kompolnas) and the Ombudsman.

Read also: National Police Respond to Plethora of Human Rights Complaints

ANDITA RAHMA | AVIT HIDAYAT