Major reshuffle on the cards in National Police

JAKARTA (JP): A major reshuffle is in the works in the National Police, with 36 high-ranking and middle-ranking officers involved.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf said on Saturday that six new provincial police chiefs had been replaced based on a decree signed by National Police chief Gen. Suroyo Bimantoro on Feb. 9.

Saleh said the transfer of duties would be conducted within two weeks from the issuance of the decree.

The decree also stipulates the expansion of the National Police Information Center and that it be led by an inspector general. Brig. Gen. Didi Widayadi who is currently an official at the State Secretariat, has been appointed to the center's top post, replacing Saleh.

Saleh, who has held the post for about four months, will be transferred to Yogyakarta as the provincial police chief to replace Brig. Gen. Logan Siagian. The office Saleh is currently heading will be renamed the National Police Center for Information and Legal Affairs.

Like Didi, West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Yuyun Mulyana is among the few officers promoted. Yuyun's rank will be raised to commissioner general after he becomes the National Police inspector general, replacing Comr. Gen. M. Nurdin who will be retiring.

Yuyun's position as West Java provincial police chief will be taken by South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Syahroeddin.

Another leading police figure, director for general crimes Brig. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, will relinquish his post to Brig. Gen. MD. Primanto.

Alex, once thought to be a rising star, has been given the post of an expert staff member of the National Police chief in charge of social, economic and cultural affairs. Many consider the removal of Alex from his current post a demotion.

Former East Timor Police chief and current director for narcotic crimes Brig. Gen. Timbul Silaen will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Wilhelmus Laturette.

Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Kadaryanto will hand over his post to the National Police's forensic laboratory chief Brig. Gen. Erwin Mappaseng.

West Kalimantan Police chief Brig. Gen. Atok Rismanto will be replaced by the current chief of the police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Brig. Gen. Nurdin Usman. Nurdin's current post will be filled by Brig. Gen. Jusuf M. Barani, the South Sulawesi Police chief.

Insp. Gen. Sutanto wiil remain as the East Java Police chief amid growing demands that he resign following attacks on Golkar party offices across the province recently.

Many feel the reshuffle follows demands for the police to improve its performance.

Saleh Saaf said reshuffles are conducted periodically at the National Police Headquarters. (jun)