Indonesian National Police in Terrorism Handling Policy During Joko Widodo's Government: Analysis of Role, Function and Evaluation

Abstract

In 1998, Indonesia began to enter the democratic system. The consequence of democratic system in security field is how to create a professional military and police. In police aspects, it is called Democratic Policing. But to realize it is not easy because the ways of police still dominant with element of violence. This was inseparable from the values and military approaches in Polri during the New Order period. This difficulty occurs when Indonesia faced terrorism cases after the New Order; from Bali Bombings in 2002 until 2018. The trend of terrorism attacks had up and down; starting from suicide bombings until open physical attacks towards public and the police. Various cases of terrorism that occurred in Indonesia and other countries reopened the review of national security. This review consider the relationship between security and national interests where national interests are a matter of state safety. Based on this assumption, the concept of national security develops with two aspects: military approach and state policy. The relevance of this assumption could be seen on May 25, 2018, when DPR officially ratified The Law No.15 /2003 concerning the Criminal Act of Terrorism. This law raises two problems. First, the involvement of the TNI in handling terrorism; second, the freedom of authority granted to Polri. This authority can potentially apply a militaristic approach in handling terrorism cases. These problems made some doubts from human rights activists about Polri’s commitment for abandon militaristic ways as part of efforts to create democratic policing. This paper will examine how the role of Polri in handling terrorism cases during in Joko Widodo's government. The review will analyze the role and functions of Polri's institution related to the commitment in creating democratic policing on post New Order. Keywords—police, policy, security, democracy, terrorism