The National Police should use the occasion of its anniversary, Bhayangkara Day, to launch internal reforms and reduce the levels of violence used by its personnel, according to a human rights advocacy group.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said human rights violations could be avoided if the police were fully committed to its internal standard operational procedures (SOPs).

The rights group made the call on Friday ahead of the police forceâ??s anniversary, which falls on July 1.

Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar condemned the increasing number of violent incidents and human rights violations by police officers in the past year.

The group had recorded 14 reports of torture and 11 major incidents involving excessive force. It also listed 20 arbitrary arrests and eight incidents of condoning acts of brutality by vigilante groups.

Haris said police personnel had employed repressive measures when dispersing demonstrators in the recent fuel-price hike demonstrations. Furthermore, police had all too frequently tolerated the use of force by religious groups.

Kontras also called for a comprehensive evaluation of the policeâ??s elite counterterrorism unit, Detachment 88, so as to prevent the mistreatment of terrorist suspects. (fzm)