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)