Journalists protest new police chief

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Yogyakarta branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) sent a letter to the National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro on Friday, protesting the decision to promote Brig. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman as Jakarta Police chief.

In a two-page letter signed by the AJI's vice chairman Heru Prasetya and secretary Tjahjono EP, the group urged the National Police chief to negate the promotion and instead question Mulyono over the handling of the 1996 murder case of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, alias Udin, while he was then the Yogyakarta Police chief.

The alliance said Mulyono was not the right person for the post, because he had proved himself incapable of solving the murder case.

"When he was the Yogyakarta Police chief, his men committed a fatal error by wrongfully arresting Dwi Sumaji alias Iwik in October 1996 for the murder case...while evidence and witnesses concluded that it was not so," the statement said.

Bantul District Court finally freed Iwik from all charges due to lack of evidence on Nov. 3.

"The promotion of a particular figure to such a post should take into consideration his or her achievements and track record. The National Police Headquarters should have a clear quality standard for the position of police chief," the statement said. (swa)