Law enforcement must not instill a sense of fear that hinders acceleration and innovation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) drew attention of legal enforcers to be wary that fulfilling public duties should not trigger fear.

"Law enforcement must not instill a sense of fear that hinders acceleration and innovation," Jokowi stated in his opening remarks during the 2020 Public Prosecutors' Meeting at the State Palace here on Monday.

The head of state highlighted the need to increase public trust in law enforcement agencies.

The president stressed on the indispensable need for law enforcers, including prosecutors, to harbor a sense of integrity and professionalism.

"Supervision and enforcement of internal discipline must be strengthened. The AGO must be clean. The prosecutor's office must be clean. The prosecutor's office must serve with integrity and be a role model for law enforcement professionals," he stated.

To this end, the president called for making effective and continued improvements, from upstream to downstream in the prosecutor's office, and pertaining to other law enforcement agencies.

“Recruitment and promotion must be conducted with transparent and open meritocracy. The integrity of prosecutors, with national insight and readiness to face legal problems in future, must be prioritized," he stated.

The president emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to work together to conduct functions properly without triggering fear among members of the public.

The Jakarta Police noted that its officers recently shot dead six members of the Islam Defenders' Front (FPI) on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, as they had attacked on-duty officers.

The incident had fueled an outcry on social media, and several legislators and NGOs have demanded the government to form an independent fact-finding team to investigate the deaths of six civilians aged between 20 and 33 years.

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Translator: Hanni Sofia, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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