Critics ask for transparency from police<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police under new chief Gen. Sutanto has announced a
\nmajor reshuffle that affects five provincial police heads, which
\ncritics have said lacks transparency.<\/p>\n
Adnan Pandupardja of Police Watch, a non-governmental
\norganization, said the latest reshuffle, like those in the past,
\nwas carried out secretively so that the public could not demand
\naccountability from the outgoing officers or provide input as to
\nwhether the officers were suited to their new postings.<\/p>\n
\"The police leadership has apparently conducted the reshuffle
\nwithout giving the public a chance to appraise the performance of
\nthe officers,\" Adnan said, adding that the absence of
\ntransparency was the root of public distrust in the police.<\/p>\n
He suggested, therefore, that local legislative councils push
\nthe newly appointed provincial police chiefs to present their
\nprograms and plans, and assess their awareness of the challenges
\nthey are likely to face.<\/p>\n
\"The councillors must have the courage to demand
\naccountability reports from the outgoing officers. Indeed, the
\nevaluation should determine the officers' future careers,\" Adnan
\nsaid on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"It's the right time for councillors to pay attention to law
\nenforcement issues, as well as just economic and political
\nissues.\"<\/p>\n
The reshuffle took place amid a police campaign against
\ngambling, drug trafficking and rampant corruption that has
\nimplicated some high-profile figures.<\/p>\n
Adnan said that he understood that the police leadership had
\nthe prerogative to replace officers, but he said it would be
\nbetter for the National Police to announce the names of
\ncandidates for particular posts in order to elicit input from the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
\"That's what we call transparency,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Police affairs observer and criminologist Adrianus Meliala
\nfrom the University of Indonesia said that several of the
\nofficers who had been given new posts were classmates of Gen.
\nSutanto.<\/p>\n
\"If we look at the names, there are several young officers who
\nhave been promoted in the current reshuffle, including Gorries
\nMere and Aryanto Sutadi. I think it is good,\" Adrianus said.<\/p>\n
\"But, we, of course, should not turn a blind eye to several
\nofficers who are known to be General Sutanto's classmates. Of
\ncourse, we won't mind if they were appointed to their new posts
\nfor professional reasons.\"<\/p>\n
Sutanto, a 1973 graduate of the Police Academy, won unanimous
\nendorsement from the House of Representatives due to his clean
\nimage and his persistent fight against gambling when he led the
\nNorth Sumatra and later East Java forces a few years ago.<\/p>\n
However, Adrianus questioned why the regional police chiefs
\nhad not been replaced in provinces long known as strategic, such
\nas North Sumatra and South Sulawesi.<\/p>",
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