Bimantoro's retirement date being debated
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Legislators are divided over the retirement date of National Police chief. Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, who should officially retire on Nov. 3 (not on Nov. 1 as reported earlier).
Several legislators said Bimantoro could extend his term of office until the end of November, while others said that Bimantoro should be replaced on his day of retirement.
"Based on the regulations of the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police, someone entering retirement should leave their post by the end of the month. No one leaves their post during the month.
"In the case of Bimantoro, even though his retirement date is on Nov. 3, his term of office will be extended until the end of the month. This means that the post of police chief won't ever be left vacant," Raja Kami Sembiring Meliala of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Friday.
Separately, Effendy Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) said that Bimantoro should end his term of office on Nov. 3 and that President Megawati Soekarnoputri should appoint an acting chief, while waiting for his permanent successor.
"The House of Representatives is currently in recess, so we have yet to approve Comr. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, who has been nominated by Megawati as the sole candidate," Effendy said, adding that, in order to avoid a vacuum being created, Megawati should assign Da'i as the acting chief.
Ahmad Sumargono of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), however, suggested Megawati should extend Bimantoro's term rather than appoint a new name to the post.
His suggestion only implied that he would not approve of Da'i for the top post.
Several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have also voiced their objection to the nomination of Da'i due to his questionable credibility.
Meliala, however, defended the government's decision, saying that all charges against Da'i have yet to be confirmed.
"But, as long as there is no firm evidence, we are going to support the government's decision," said Meliala, a retired two- star Army general.