Appointment of new police chief 'will solve crisis'
Appointment of new police chief 'will solve crisis'
BANDUNG (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Agum Gumelar said the immediate appointment of a
new police chief would be the best way to resolve the current
leadership crisis in the National Police.
Agum warned that the uncertainty created by the leadership
crisis within the police force could cause further fissures among
its officers.
Thus the appointment of a new police chief in accordance with
existing procedures and regulations would be the answer to the
current predicament.
"The appointment of a new police chief has to go through the
right procedures," Agum stressed here on Sunday.
He urged President Abdurrahman Wahid to immediately submit
candidates for the chief of police post to the House of
Representatives, as required by the regulations.
He noted that the outgoing police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro
had submitted the names of several candidates to replace him to
the President and those candidates should be given to the House
for approval as soon as possible.
The police force has been in a state of confusion as to who is
in charge after the President instructed Bimantoro to hand over
his command to his deputy Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail.
Bimantoro, however, has not surrendered his command baton and
is, in fact, due to lead a police ceremony on Monday to oversee
security preparations for the upcoming special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly.
Speaking at a gathering of local Javanese community leaders
here on Sunday, Agum also asserted that he had rejected the
President's recent order to arrest Bimantoro.
"When I was appointed as a minister, I came in with the
intention of not letting the President make wrong decisions. Gus
Dur should not engage in inappropriate conduct," Agum underlined,
referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.
Agum once again reiterated that he would do whatever it took
to find a solution to the current political impasse at the lowest
possible cost to the country.
"I will act as best I can. But, should it (the decision)
create more problems, I will do my best to stop it. Do not force
me because I have explained the cost of such decisions," Agum
remarked.
When asked what action could be taken against Bimantoro if he
remained defiant, Agum said: "I have not decided yet, but I will
find the best solution to the problem."
Separately, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said on Sunday that
establishing an officers' disciplinary committee to settle the
police problem would not be the answer as such a committee would
only be effective for middle-ranking officers.
"There have been suggestions of establishing a disciplinary
committee, but it would not be effective because such a committee
would only be appropriate for middle-ranking officers and not the
national police chief," Mahfud said.
"During the political and security coordinating meeting, we
agreed to take some administrative action, and I think Pak Agum
may carry this out," Mahfud said during a press conference at his
official residence.
He asserted that it would be very difficult for Agum to
resolve the police problem, saying that too many political
aspects were involved in the crisis. (25/dja)