MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Legal aid organization (LBH) Medan has called on Indonesian National Police Chief-designate Commissioner General (Komjen Pol.) Suyudi Ario Seto to make police reform his top priority following approval of his appointment by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI). The change in the police leadership must serve as an opportunity to address various internal institutional problems, particularly law enforcement, police personnel oversight, efforts to combat drug trafficking, and the protection of human rights.
LBH Medan Director
Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., emphasized that the new police leadership must bring about substantial and tangible changes. In his view, the public needs more than a change of leadership personnel. Fundamental improvements are also necessary in the police force's working practices, organizational culture, and internal oversight mechanisms.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had previously submitted Presidential Letter (Surpres) No. R-57/Pres/09/2026, dated September 30, 2026, to the House of Representatives concerning the proposed dismissal and appointment of the National Police Chief. In the letter, Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto was nominated to become the new National Police Chief, replacing General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
On October 1, 2026, the House of Representatives approved
Suyudi Ario Seto's appointment as the new
National Police Chief following a fit-and-proper test.
According to Irvan, the leadership transition is taking place while the police continue to face numerous serious challenges. These include crime, shortcomings in law enforcement, inadequate internal supervision, the growing prevalence of narcotics, and public criticism of repressive measures taken by police officers in their interactions with the community.
"The nomination of Commissioner General
Suyudi Ario Seto as the sole candidate for
National Police Chief should be viewed as an opportunity to test the state's commitment to comprehensive police reform. The police force must be reformed," Irvan said in an official statement on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Drug Enforcement Record Must Be Reviewed
Irvan said that Commissioner General
Suyudi Ario Seto's previous performance as head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) must undergo critical evaluation. In his view, the public should be able to assess how effective efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit narcotics trafficking actually were during his tenure.
He acknowledged that under Suyudi's leadership, the BNN uncovered hundreds of cases and dismantled dozens of drug networks in 2025. However, these enforcement achievements have yet to correspond adequately with the scale of the drug problem in society.
"On the one hand, under his leadership, the BNN recorded hundreds of cases and dozens of drug networks uncovered in 2025. However, these law enforcement achievements have not kept pace with the continuing and deeply concerning development of the drug problem," Irvan said.
According to BNN data, the prevalence of drug abuse increased from 1.73 percent to 2.11 percent in 2025. This figure represents approximately 4.1 million people who have been exposed to narcotics.
Irvan said this development should be a serious concern for the new
National Police Chief. Efforts to combat drug trafficking must not be limited to uncovering cases and arresting offenders at the ground level. Law enforcement agencies must also target major drug traffickers, masterminds, and the distribution networks responsible for organizing the illicit trade.
Beyond the drug problem, Irvan pointed out that the new police leadership faces much broader challenges. These include the excessive use of authority and force, the criminalization of citizens who voice criticism, inadequate oversight and accountability among police personnel, as well as problems in handling demonstrations and delivering public services.
He stressed that these problems demonstrated that police reform could not be achieved solely through a change of leadership or amendments to regulations. Instead, the new
National Police Chief must address three fundamental institutional areas: structural, instrumental, and cultural reform.
These three areas must form part of a comprehensive reform agenda. Only through such an approach can the police ensure that changes go beyond written policies and are reflected in the conduct and daily duties of every police officer.
REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE AS BNN CHIEF:
LBH Medan Director
Irvan Saputra says a critical evaluation of Commissioner General
Suyudi Ario Seto's previous performance as head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is necessary. The review should focus particularly on the effectiveness of measures to combat drug abuse and illicit narcotics trafficking. (PHOTO:
LBH Medan)
Police Reform Recommendations Must Be Implemented
Irvan explained that many of the police force's internal problems had already been examined by the Commission for the Acceleration of
Police Reform (KPRP). The commission compiled various findings and reform recommendations in a report spanning approximately 3,000 pages, which was submitted to the President on May 5, 2026.
The report contains investigation findings, criticisms, and recommendations concerning institutional restructuring, internal oversight, police services, the handling of demonstrations, and the strengthening of accountability mechanisms within the police force.
LBH Medan believes this document must serve as an important reference for the new police leadership. Thousands of pages of recommendations must not simply become administrative documents left on the President's desk without any concrete follow-up action.
Following his official inauguration, Suyudi must translate the recommendations into a police reform roadmap. The roadmap should include clear targets, performance indicators, implementation deadlines, responsible institutions, and evaluation mechanisms through which the public can monitor progress.
LBH Medan emphasized that police reform is an urgent necessity that must be demonstrated through actual changes in policing practices. In particular, repressive measures must end, the criminalization of citizens must be prevented, and internal oversight must be strengthened. At the same time, all police powers must be exercised professionally, proportionately, transparently, and accountably, with full respect for human rights.
Irvan also referred to numerous public criticisms of the police force's performance and institutional leadership during General Listyo Sigit Prabowo's tenure. In his view, these issues must become a fundamental basis for evaluation by the new leadership to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
He explained that police powers directly affect the fundamental rights of the public. These include arrest and detention, criminal investigations, the use of physical force, and the protection of freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate.
"Police actions in exercising their authority have repeatedly come under criticism, particularly over excessive use of force, criminalization, intimidation, and restrictions on civil liberties," Irvan stressed.
In his assessment, such practices could violate the public's right to life and security, as stipulated in Article 9 of Law No. 39 of 1999 on
Human Rights. They could also affect the right to personal liberty and protection against arbitrary arrest, as well as freedom of expression and assembly, as provided for under Article 23 Paragraph 2 and Article 24 of the same law.
Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Indonesia ratified through Law No. 12 of 2005, the police must also comply with Article 6 on the right to life, Article 9 on liberty and security of person, Article 19 on freedom of opinion and expression, and Article 21 on the right to peaceful assembly when exercising their authority.
For this reason,
LBH Medan views police reform as more than an institutional matter. It is also closely connected to constitutional obligations and the protection of human rights. The objective must be to ensure that every police action is lawful, proportionate, accountable, and respectful of human dignity.
CALL FOR FIVE REFORM MEASURES: LBH Medan urges the new National Police Chief to implement five reform measures. These include stronger internal oversight, an end to repressive practices and the criminalization of citizens, and the preservation of the police force's institutional independence. (PHOTO: LBH Medan)
Five Demands from
LBH Medan for the New Police Chief
As part of its call for comprehensive reform, LBH Medan has outlined five key demands that Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto must consider during his tenure as National Police Chief.
First, the new
National Police Chief must demonstrate a strong commitment to police reform. He should use the approximately 3,000-page report containing recommendations from the Commission for the Acceleration of
Police Reform as a roadmap for institutional restructuring. Each recommendation must be accompanied by clear targets and binding deadlines so that the public can monitor its implementation.
Second, the National Police Chief must improve law enforcement and internal oversight to eliminate abuse of authority, repressive measures, and the criminalization of citizens. The police must also ensure that every use of force and all investigative procedures comply with applicable laws and human rights principles.
Third, the
National Police Chief must guarantee the public's freedom to express criticism and hold demonstrations. Any police officer who violates regulations must face transparent investigations, as well as disciplinary and legal proceedings. Practices that encourage impunity must not be tolerated.
Fourth, the new police leadership must strengthen efforts to combat narcotics by focusing particularly on drug traffickers, masterminds, and illegal distribution networks. These measures are necessary to ensure that anti-drug operations do not focus exclusively on prosecuting low-level offenders.
Fifth, the new
National Police Chief must maintain the police force's institutional independence and refrain from involvement in alleged partisan political activities. This principle is essential to ensuring that all police powers are exercised professionally and that the institution does not deviate from its duties and responsibilities.
LBH Medan stressed that the numerous negative experiences and criticisms arising during the previous police leadership's tenure must serve as the basis for an evaluation. They must not simply be passed on to the next leadership as unresolved problems.
Irvan expressed hope that Commissioner General
Suyudi Ario Seto would demonstrate a measurable commitment to changing police working practices. The new leadership must not merely continue existing policies without reviewing the problems that have long been criticized by the public.
According to LBH Medan, the success of police reform must be measured through greater institutional accountability, a reduction in repressive measures and the criminalization of citizens, more effective internal oversight, and improved protection of public rights in all police services and law enforcement activities.
The change at the top of the police force must therefore mark the beginning of comprehensive institutional restructuring. Public trust in the police must be restored through concrete action, transparency, professionalism, and an unequivocal commitment to making the rule of law and human rights the guiding principles of all police duties.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala