Da'i nomination faces mounting opposition<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The nomination of Comr. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar as the new National
\nPolice chief by President Megawati Soekarnoputri has faced
\nmounting opposition from observers, who say his neutrality in the
\npolice's internal conflict should not be the main reason for
\nappointing him.<\/p>\n
Mulyana W. Kusumah of the University of Indonesia (UI) said
\nthe officers' previous track records were more important as the
\ndeciding factor in electing the police chief.<\/p>\n
\"Using neutrality as the main consideration gives the
\nimpression that the police are only dealing with their internal
\naffairs, but in reality the police have more complicated matters
\nin serving the public,\" Mulyana told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
State Secretary\/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo said on
\nMonday the nomination of Da'i as the National Police chief was
\nexpected to mend rifts in the National Police force.<\/p>\n
Since the appointment of Gen. Chaerudin Ismail as the National
\nPolice chief by former president Abdurrahman Wahid, the police
\nforce has been divided into those who support Chaerudin and those
\nwho support incumbent National Police chief Gen. Surojo
\nBimantoro, who will retire on Nov. 3.<\/p>\n
Munir, the founder of the Commission for Missing Persons and
\nVictims of Violence (Kontras), said that the government's
\nargument on the Da'i nomination was groundless.<\/p>\n
\"The main argument in electing the National Police chief
\nshould be his vision and integrity to manage the future of the
\npolice,\" Munir told the Post.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the rifts at police headquarters, Munir said that
\nthe appearance of factions in the police was a result of
\nintervention by the government and lawmakers.<\/p>\n
\"What happened in the past should serve as a good lesson in
\nthat the government and other politicians should not intervene in
\nthe police,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, UI analyst Adrianus Meliala also said that rifts in
\nthe National Police headquarters was not the only reason Megawati
\nappointed Da'i.<\/p>\n
Adrianus said that Da'i, who graduated from the State Police
\nAcademy in 1972, was expected to resolve various security
\nproblems faced by the nation since he was not old and he would
\nhave enough time to deal with the problems.<\/p>\n
\"One of Megawati's considerations was his age, as he is
\nrelatively young compared to other police officers, and the
\npolice need time to resolve the various problems facing the
\nnation,\" Adrianus said.<\/p>\n
He said East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto, who
\ngraduated in 1973, also deserved the top position in the National
\nPolice headquarters, but that he was still linked to Bimantoro's
\ncamp.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Sumargono, a member of the House of Representatives'
\nCommission I for defense, foreign and political affairs, also
\nexpressed his disagreement with Da'i's nomination, saying that
\nthere were other better police officers to fill the position.<\/p>\n
Sumargono said Megawati should consider the role of several
\nofficers to help facilitate the process of the succession of
\nnational leadership from former president Abdurrahman to
\nMegawati.<\/p>\n
Another House Commission I member, Burhan Magenda, however,
\nexpressed his support for Da'i's nomination, saying that the
\nHouse of Representatives would discuss the nomination next month.<\/p>\n
\"We will hopefully have a new police chief in November at the
\nlatest,\" Burhan said on the sidelines of a seminar on the
\nnational defense study program.<\/p>\n
House Commission I is in charge of approving the National
\nPolice chief from the nominations submitted by the government.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dai-nomination-faces-mounting-opposition-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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