In his directives issued at a police leadership meeting at the National Police Headquarters here on Tuesday, the President said the challenges faced by the police now were more complicated and heavy than they were before requiring more professionalism and measured actions.
"The tasks of the police force are heavier, the challenges are more real and complex. Any action taken by the police will be immediately known by the public while security and order must be maintained, despite its complexity. So the police`s role is more important and must be improved," he said.
President Yudhoyono said in the next five to ten years riots and anarchy would continue to happen until people had become more mature in the practice of democracy and civilized.
Incidents between police and people would even happen with greater complexity and intensity so that police across the country must be ready for them.
In dealing with anarchy or mass demonstrations that tend to lead to riots the President advised that the police should not use live ammunition considering that they were also members of society that also had to be protected.
"Carry out your duties professionally with correct tactics and techniques to prevent fatalities. Our aim and goal is to stop riots but in doing so we must avoid deaths, so leave bullets behind and don`t use them easily, from the national police chief down to petty officers," he said.
He said the police must always ensure security and peace. "Rioters, trouble-makers and violence perpetrators must be dealt with according to the law and democratic norms. In connection with that violence must be stopped immediately. Do not let it continue. And after that the law must be enforced," he said.
He said "public security and order must be maintained. Disruptions of public security and order must not be allowed. Do not let the people become worried and afraid due to continued violent incidents and acts of taking the law into their own hands."
In view of that he said there were some important elements that police have to have when carrying out their duties.
They are among others "capability and professionalism. All police members dealing with rioters must have them including skills and knowledge. Assure that they all have them," he said.
The others are preparedness and quick reaction. "I heard recommendations from the national police chief on how the Mobile Brigade and other units need to have capability for quick mobilization," he said. The third elements are correct tactics and techniques, he said.
The President meanwhile also emphasized the importance of matching the number of police personnel with the real conditions in the field as well as good leadership of units in the field.
He said the police could act professionally in carrying out their duties according to the procedures.
The meeting was attended by the national police chief and provincial police chiefs from across the country as well as other police leaders in the National Headquarters.
In the meeting President Yudhoyono was flanked by a number of cabinet ministers, the commander of the defense forces (TNI) and the chiefs of staff of the three TNI forces.
(SYS/H-YH/F001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
