TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo has issued a circular that firmly instructs every police internal media unit not to bring media personnel outside the institution in any police raids.

The circular dated April 5 - which Tempo obtained today - mentioned, “Because [raids and arrests] are not permitted to be aired live and documentations must be conducted by competent Polri personnel.”

The police chief also mentioned that police internal media are not permitted to publish footage of officers that convey acts of arrogance and violence. They must also give more air time to show police activities that put forth humanistic yet firm approaches.

When asked about this circular, the National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono asserted that the rules only affect personnel within the police institution.

“The circular is addressed for internal Polri only,” Rusdi confirmed to Tempo in a text message on April 6.

In total, there are 11 instructions in the Police Chief circular that cover other general police activities. The incstuctions include; the police internal media teams must not air the process of a crime scene reconstruction; protect the identities of victims, suspects, victims and suspects’ relatives, and not broadcast explicit footage.

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ANDITA RAHMA