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Police Reform: MoU between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement

Implementations

Police Reform – 2005

As the draft bill on Aceh’s autonomy was still in progress, no implementation information on police reform was available. Nevertheless, the draft bill was expected to be introduced to the Indonesian parliament by December 2005.

Police Reform – 2006

The Indonesian parliament passed the draft bill on 11 June. The Law on Governing Aceh provided for Aceh’s own organic police force (Articles 204-207). The law provided a selection process as well as certain qualifications required for recruitment.¹ The MoU acknowledged the rights of GAM combatants to seek employment in the organic police forces without discrimination. It is not clear, however, whether the GAM members sought employment in the Aceh’s police force.

In terms of providing training, the International Organization for Migration had a program to support the Indonesian National Police (INP) Reform Program, with support from the European Union. The program started in 2006 and ended in 2012. Part of the program involved police reform in Aceh which involved community policing, human rights and professional training.²

“Indonesian media reacts to passing of Aceh governance law,” BBC Monitoring, July 12, 2006.
“Press Release: IOM Support to the Indonesian National Police Reform Program Funded by European Union(2006 — 2012) Draws to a Close,” last modified July 11, 2012, accessed March 26, 2013, http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/indonesia/documents/press_corner/20120… “Aceh: A New Chance for Peace,” International Crisis Group Asia Briefing NÂ°40, August 15, 2005.