Security Forces’ Neutrality

TO borrow the wording of the warnings on cigarette commercials: lack of neutrality of the security forces in a general election can result in damage to democracy, disturbances to security and danger to the nation. Therefore, security forces at every level must maintain neutrality. They must not be duplicitous: pretending to campaign for neutrality in public, but siding with particular presidential and vice-presidential candidate pairing on the ground.

The neutrality of the National Police (Polri) is under the spotlight in the lead up to the general elections on February 14, 2024. Formally, in October, Polri Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo ordered his officers not to side with any candidate. But there have been strong rumors that officers on the ground have frequently been working to bring about the victory of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka. ‘Certain individuals’ also put pressure on the other two pairings, Anies Rasyid Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md.

The Police Chief must ensure that these serious violations do not happen. The neutrality of police in the elections is not up for negotiation. Article 10 of People’s Consultative Assembly Decree No. VII/2000 on the Role of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police obliges police to remain neutral and not become involved in practical politics. Law No. 2/2002 on National Police imposes the same obligation. The main responsibility of the institution is to preserve security, order and the smooth running of the democratic process.

It will not be possible to carry out these responsibilities if officers side with one candidate. Imagine how difficult the job of police officers on the ground would be if there were protests over the election result, while the people know that they support one of the competing candidates. In this situation, the group that feels it has lost out could see police officers as the enemy.

The danger would increase if other state officials do not remain neutral. And there are clear signs that this is happening. Members of the TNI, civil servants and village heads and officials have been deployed to work for the victory of one candidate. Perhaps they already understand, but need to be reminded: the three candidate pairings must be seen as equals. Although he has a family connection with President Joko Widodo, the ultimate boss of all state officials, Gibran is only one of the competing vice-presidential candidates. They must not give special treatment, yet alone ‘safeguard’ the road to victory for the President’s oldest son. It would also be wrong for officers to side with any of the other candidates.

The phrase “continuation of development,” which is often used as an excuse for the partiality of security forces, is absurd. In the visions and missions expressed so far, not a single candidate pairing has said it will radically change the direction of development followed by Jokowi for the last 10 years. So, it is almost certain that the lack of neutrality on the part of the security forces is down to the interests of the elite in keeping their jobs.

The people need to work together to monitor the security forces on the ground. Everyone must have the courage to report any violations of neutrality in the election. Social media could be an effective means to show evidence of non-neutrality. Networks of witnesses and monitors need to be strengthened in order to ensure that there are no transgressions on polling day. If necessary, foreign election observers could be given the opportunity to monitor the election. All sides need to ensure that the nation is not endangered by the partiality of the security forces in the election.