Major reshuffle on the cards in National Police

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)