Hargo.co.id, JAKARTA – Police Chief General Polisi Listyo Sigit Prabowo has instructed all of his personnel to exercise caution in using social media.
This directive is outlined in official telegram number 2407 issued in October 2023.
Brigadier General Pol. Agus Wijayanto, Head of the Propam Division of the Indonesian National Police, explained that this policy aims to uphold the neutrality of the police during the 2024 elections.
“It’s been communicated to us through telegram number 2407 in October. It details what police personnel are prohibited from doing on social media,” he clarified on Sunday (12/17/2023).
He explained that all members of the police force are prohibited from taking photos with election candidates and from commenting on candidate photos on social media.
Police personnel are also prohibited from taking selfies with poses that could suggest bias towards political parties.
Furthermore, they are not allowed to promote, respond to, or disseminate photos of candidate pairs via mass media, online media, and social media.
“This includes poses with fingers pointing, which used to be a tradition, whether it’s enlisted or officer ranks; it is not allowed,” he emphasized.
He further explained that the Propam Division has various methods to ensure the neutrality of police personnel. Several videos featuring the figure of Mr. Bhabin have been circulated as a reminder to all ranks.
“One of the pre-emptive measures is to instill religious devotion in Propam personnel as a primary focus,” he said.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of leadership as an example in maintaining police neutrality. Subsequently, there is training and guidance on discipline for the members.
“We provide guidelines to our ranks on what is allowed and what is not, aside from existing laws and regulations,” he said.
Propam Polri, he said, also conducts early detection to preserve neutrality during the elections. One of these measures is conducting cyber patrols.
According to him, during the election period, Propam Polri will monitor closely. If there are repressive actions, a special team for neutrality handling from the Paminal Bureau, Provost Bureau, and Wabprof Bureau will follow up.
Not only police personnel, he revealed, but the families of police officers participating in the 2024 elections have also been addressed in the telegram.
He stated that the police have already documented the families of police officers running in the elections, from local councils to the national parliament.
“Whether they are candidates for regional councils, provincial councils, or the national parliament, we have documented them, and to date, there are approximately 1,300 entries in that database,” he explained.
Furthermore, he added that even if a family member is participating in the 2024 elections, police personnel are not allowed to engage in practical activities.
“They are also not allowed to misuse existing facilities,” he said.
If there is an officer suspected of not being neutral, he said, the police will seek clarification from multiple parties first.
“If a violation is found, there will be follow-up action from Propam Polri,” he stated.
Then, a meeting will be held to determine the category of the offense. If it falls under a severe category, sanctions, including dishonorable discharge, may be imposed.
“The Head of the Propam Division has set a deadline, and we have discussed that for ethics violations, it will be completed within 14 days.
For civil servant violations, it will be completed within 7 days after the LP (disciplinary letter) is issued. This is our serious commitment to addressing neutrality,” he concluded. (*)
Release: Public Relations of the Indonesian National Police
