Police chief fired over VCD affair<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik and Agus Maryono, Jakarta\/Banjarnegara<\/p>\n
In an apparent demotion, the National Police have transferred the
\nBanyumas, Central Java, Police chief, Sr. Comr. Andi Mapparesa,
\nto a desk job for giving a speech supporting President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's bid for reelection.<\/p>\n
Andi had violated an order by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar that police officers must stay neutral during the
\nlegislative and presidential elections, said National Police
\nspokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman.<\/p>\n
\"We have transferred him to headquarters in Jakarta as a human
\nresources officer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Paiman said headquarters had confirmed that Andi had violated
\nthe order in a speech he gave on May 29 during a meeting with
\npolice officers' families and retired officers, in which he asked
\nthem to support Megawati's reelection bid.<\/p>\n
The University of Indonesia Alumni Association (Iluni)
\nreleased a video last Monday of the meeting, which was held in
\nBanjarnegara regency.<\/p>\n
The video clearly showed that Andi and his wife were
\nattempting to encourage support for Megawati by pointing out
\nseveral disadvantages for the police if a candidate other than
\nMegawati was elected.<\/p>\n
Iluni urged Da'i to resign for failing to maintain the
\nimpartiality of the police during the elections.<\/p>\n
Paiman said that a police team comprising detectives and
\nofficers from internal affairs was still investigating the case.<\/p>\n
The police have also reported the case to the Elections
\nSupervisory Committee (Panwaslu) for criminal investigation, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Banyumas Panwaslu said that a video store owner
\nidentified as Sumadyo was ordered by Bambang, a local police
\nofficer, to transfer the recording onto a video compact disc
\n(VCD) and make several copies of it.<\/p>\n
It was not clear however whether Bambang had been officially
\nordered by a superior to have the copies made or did it of his
\nown accord.<\/p>\n
Banyumas Panwaslu chairman Jauhar Hatta said that after the
\ncopies had been made and handed over to Bambang, one copy was
\nleft in the video store.<\/p>\n
\"This copy was then found and watched by some people there,
\nincluding Puji Rahardjo, who chairs Banyumas Golkar Youth and is
\na member of the Wiranto campaign team. Puji then borrowed the
\ncopy from Sumadyo and took it home,\" said Jauhar.<\/p>\n
He said that Sumadyo lent the VCD to Puji after the latter
\nassured him that he would be responsible should anything untoward
\nhappen.<\/p>\n
The police have named Puji as a suspect for distributing
\ncopies of the VCD.<\/p>\n
Jauhar said his office would coordinate with the national
\nPanwaslu in handling the case, adding that his team had
\nquestioned Andi to clarify what had actually happened during the
\nMay 29 meeting.<\/p>\n
\"Andi said he could not remember what he said during the
\nmeeting,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-chief-fired-over-vcd-affair-1447893297",
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