REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By. Nasihin Masha

This Wednesday, the policewomen with a certain rank were gathered in Jakarta. They meet and greet with the new police chief's wife. At first glance, it's seems normal. But, the police began to wonder: what is it? Moreover, there was a note that the policewomen should wear daily uniforms. This means that they must wear skirt, knee-length skirt. On the other hand, the policewoman was not the subordinates of chief police wife. Minister's wife or wives of officials usually gather with their husband subordinates. As a foster mother, she gave a lot of advice. They must obey the rules, do not tease the boss, and should not be disloyal or rebellious against the rules.

This meeting was a concern because currently there is anxiety in the policewomen circles. National Police Chief Gen. Sutarman, on Tuesday (19/11) allowed policewomen to wear headscarves from that Wednesday. This was a fresh policy. Moreover Sutarman was newly inducted on October 25, 2013. So not even a month since he became police chief, he acknowledged that wearing headscarves is a human right. But a few days later, on Thursday (28/11), a secret telegram emerged, signed by deputy chief Commissioner General Oegroseno. The cable contained headscarf delay order until a new rule about uniforms to be published. Sutarman admitted he asked Oegro to send the telegram. In various statements, the police said it was not a ban but a delay. The uniform issues related to the budget and uniformity.

The policewoman argued if the problem was the uniformity then it could be designed quickly. The Police only need to make a provision of the uniform: its material, color, and model. In addition, it has already existing examples in Aceh police uniform that required it policewomen force to wear headscarves. So it just needed to imitate it. It's very simple. But then the answer was shifted that it was not only the problem of uniformity but also the budget. Though the budgeting process could take a year, the policewoman replied that they could use their own personal funds. The Parliament also said that they can process budgeting quickly. In the end, the Police have no more argument from.

Then the strange statement emerged. Oegro for example, stated that the policewomen who still want to wear headscarves could move to Aceh or moved to a section that does not require them to dress like at the intelligence agencies. Previously, there was also a statement said that if policewomen wanted to wear headscarves, they should retire from the job. There are also other funny, silly, and stupid arguments, for example; policewomen were aware to become a police but still want to wear headscarves. There was also an argument; before admitting to police institution they didn't wear headscarves but why wear it after that. Didn't it mean forcing police to accept the change? Also an argument; if policewomen with headscarves assigned in non-Muslim majority areas it could lead to conflict. Well, there is argument this way: if policewomen wear headscarves then how she can touch or do self-defense against criminals? The arguments were stated by police generals. All the arguments were reflecting the lack of knowledge about human rights, ignorance about Islam, rejecting plurality, and affirming the language of power. On the other hand, the predictions that it might be a collision if the particulars assigned in non-Muslim -majority region, the argument meaning harassing for non-Muslims as intolerant and anti- plurality, though the headscarves in the police was nothing new in democratic countries such as, the fact, the majority of Christians in the United Kingdom or the United States.

The emergence of all the arguments still reflects the ideological climate of suspicion towards Islam. No matter how, for 32 years, Indonesia was experienced the grip of the anti-democratic regime. The regime's core was military/police and bureaucracy. Until now, the military is still not open the possibilities of discourses to allow its female soldiers to wear headscarves. While in police institution, the discourse already appeared in recent years. It is part of the large number of policewomen in the police force, compared with the number of female soldiers in the military. So it reasonable that this discourse first appeared in the Police. The police generals in the current environment were grown and educated in the New Order. So that the remnants of antidemocratic as well as the hobby, to use the language of power, were still influenced the Police. On the other hand, the regime was known as a very repressive against the Muslim citizen's aspirations. Therefore when Sutarman allowed headscarves in the police, it provided fresh air and new hope to the vision of a police chief.

On a gathering with leadership of the mass media, Sutarman showed an open, fair, and courageous  body language and tone of voice. He also tried to show his new vision. It was also reflected when he did fit and proper test in the House. He, for instance, suggested the possibility of forming Detachment of Anti-Corruption. An interesting proposition, although public was so skeptical. Understandably, the Police was included as the most corrupt institutions, beside the House. The skepticism was not for Sutarman but for the institution. Public asked whether Sutarman was able to lead police institution alone. Sure enough, the idea to give freedom for policewomen to wear the headscarves immediately received pressure from the internal environment. It should be emphasized here: Sutarman convey the right to wear headscarves when asked by reporters after the meeting with mass media leadership.

To make a change is not easy. However, the changes would be easier pursued by the present of an effective and visionary leader. Without that all, the changes would be just a fantasy. We wait for Sutarman's courage to bring the Police into a credible, dignified institution and become part of the democratic currents. There is a lot of Sutarman's homework to be done to fix the Police, and the first challenge for him was not the public but police internal environment.

Ed: Maman Sudiaman

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