Legislators reject Papuan police chief

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The appointment of the new Papua Police chief has met with opposition from Governor Jaap Salosa and local lawmakers, who say the selection process violates the special autonomy law that applies to the province.

Yan L. Ayomi, a regional representative at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and Papuan provincial legislators Paskalis Kossay of the Golkar Party and Indarto Tanaya of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said on Friday that the appointment of Insp. Gen. Budi Utomow as the provincial police chief by National Police chief Ge. Da'i Bachtiar was not legitimate as it was not done in consultation with the Papua governor.

Article 48 of Law No. 21/2001 on Papua special autonomy says the Papua Police chief is appointed by the National Police chief with the consent of the Papua governor.

"The National Police chief has to revoke the decree stipulating the appointment of the new Papua Police chief," Yan was quoted by Antara as saying.

Salossa confirmed the lawmakers' statement, saying he had never been consulted by Da'i over the selection of Budi to replace Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika.

The three lawmakers concluded that the unilateral appointment of Budi was evidence of the National Police's reluctance to make a break with the New Order centralistic paradigm.

Pastika has been transferred to the National Police Headquarters as deputy chief of detectives. He is currently leading the investigation into the bomb attack in Bali.

Da'i installed on Tuesday 17 new provincial police chiefs in the biggest reshuffle since he took office last year.