Bimantoro continues to defy suspension<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro has
\ncontinued to defy President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's orders
\ndemanding his suspension as police chief and has received backing
\nfrom the legislature and strengthening support from inside the
\npolice force.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro has ordered all provincial police chiefs to hold a
\nceremonial parade with their officers in their respective areas
\non Tuesday, and to pledge allegiance to him.<\/p>\n
The parade in Jakarta, which will also involve soldiers from
\nthe military, will be held at the National Monument and presided
\nover by Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob.<\/p>\n
Sofjan, who on Sunday pledged his support for Bimantoro, has
\nreportedly invited him as the police chief to preside over the
\nparade at the National Monument.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Didi Widayadi said on
\nMonday that all provincial police chiefs would make a pledge on
\nTuesday that they would stay united and reject any intervention.<\/p>\n
"We will pledge our obedience to the institution of the
\nNational Police, that it may not be politicized," Didi told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"We support Pak Bimantoro, not in his private capacity. If he
\nshould be replaced, it must be in accordance with the
\nprocedures," he added.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman inaugurated on Saturday the new deputy
\npolice chief, Insp. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, and tasked him with
\ntaking over all responsibilities as National Police chief from
\nBimantoro, whom the President suspended.<\/p>\n
The President's decision ignited criticism and objections from
\nno less then 100 top-ranking officials of the police force who
\npublicly expressed their resentment over the suspension.<\/p>\n
They contended that the replacement of the National Police
\nchief must be reported to and receive approval from the House of
\nRepresentatives, as stipulated in People's Consultative Assembly
\nDecree No.7\/2000.<\/p>\n
In an apparent move to challenge his suspension, Bimantoro
\ninstalled 94 high-ranking and middle-ranking police officers to
\nposts in the new police organizational structure in a ceremony
\nheld at the National Police Headquarters on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, however, was not attended by Chaeruddin. He met
\nBimantoro later on Sunday. Chaeruddin hugged Bimantoro in front
\nof photographers. No official statement was given by either of
\nthem, but Chaeruddin dismissed speculation that he would resign.<\/p>\n
"I will not step down," Chaeruddin told reporters shortly.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro met with leaders of eight major factions from the
\nHouse of Representatives on Sunday evening at the Bimasena
\nmeeting hall in South Jakarta, in which the factions declared
\ntheir support for Bimantoro.<\/p>\n
"According to the House, the National Police chief is still
\nBimantoro," the chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, Arifin Panigoro, told
\nreporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
Besides PDI Perjuangan, the other factions represented at the
\nmeeting were the Golkar Party faction, the United Development
\nParty (PPP) faction, Reform faction, the Crescent Stars Party
\nfaction (PBB) faction, the Indonesian Military and National
\nPolice faction (TNI\/Polri) faction, the Indonesian Nationhood
\n(KKI) faction and the United People's Sovereignty (PDU) faction.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro met with three former National Police chiefs on
\nMonday at Graha Purnawira on Jl. Dharmawangsa in South Jakarta.
\nThey were Awaloeddin Djamin, Sanusi and Roesmanhadi. The former
\npolice chiefs also threw their support behind Bimantoro.<\/p>\n
"We reject the fact that National Police chief Gen. Bimantoro
\nhas been relieved from his duties. It goes against existing
\nregulations," Awaloeddin said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
"We also reject the fact that the National Police is being
\nmade a political tool. It is an independent institution, and
\npolitics should have no place in it."<\/p>\n
Also on Monday, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri threw
\nher support behind Bimantoro, noting that the replacement of the
\nNational Police chief should have followed the procedure
\nstipulated in the People's Consultative Assembly decree.<\/p>\n
"PDI Perjuangan and Ibu Megawati still consider Gen. Surojo
\nBimantoro as the National Police chief," PDI Perjuangan's deputy
\nsecretary-general Pramono Anung told The Jakarta Post after his
\nmeeting with Megawati on Monday.<\/p>\n
Pramono also dismissed Abdurrahman's allegation that Bimantoro
\nhad helped create a rift between Megawati and the President.<\/p>\n
"Ibu (Megawati) had never considered that Bimantoro created a
\nrift between her and Gus Dur. In her exact words, she said: 'Why
\nshould we react to such a thing'," Pramono said. (dja\/ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bimantoro-continues-to-defy-suspension-1447893297",
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