National Police plan major reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): The appointment of the operational affairs assistant to the National Police chief, Maj. Gen. Bimantoro, as National Police deputy chief signals the beginning of a major reshuffle at police headquarters.

Bimantoro's appointment to the second-highest position in the National Police was confirmed by National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Erald Dotulong.

"Gus Dur has agreed to Pak Bimantoro's appointment as National Police deputy chief," Erald told reporters in his office, referring to President Abdurrahman Wahid by his nickname.

Bimantoro, a 1970 graduate of the National Police Academy, vowed on Friday that under the dual leadership of National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo and himself, the police would try to be efficient servants of the people.

"I can work with Bapak Rusdihardjo ... we'll make a great team," Bimantoro told The Jakarta Post on Friday, after the Post and Kompas received copies of the appointment decree signed by Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono.

"I'll do my best to live up to the trust Pak Rusdihardjo has put in me ... together we'll try and make this nation a safer place to live in."

The decree, dated Jan. 28, states that Bimantoro, 54, will replace Lt. Gen. Nana Permana, 56, as National Police deputy chief effective Feb. 1. Nana reaches mandatory retirement age before the end of the year.

The Post and Kompas also received copies of another ministerial decree signed by Juwono, describing the reshuffle in the National Police. All of the appointments will be effective by Feb. 1.

Bimantoro's post will be filled by North Sumatra Police chief Brig. Gen. Sutiyono, 54.

Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi, 53, a 1971 graduate of the National Police Academy, will replace Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, 53, a 1970 graduate of the academy. Noegroho will take over as chief of the National Police Staff and Leadership School in Bandung, West Java.

The assistant to the National Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kadaryanto, 52, will replace Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi as Central Java Police chief.

Sutiyono's post will be filled by Jakarta Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Sutanto, 50.

Sutanto's position will be taken over by the head of the police cadets, Brig. Gen. Basyir Ahmad Barmawi, 51.

The post of National Police spokesman will be filled by a recent graduate of the National Defense Institute, Col. Dadang Garnida, 51, who will soon be promoted to brigadier general.

Erald, 51, who has been in his position as spokesman for less than six months, will be installed as chief of police in his home province of North Sulawesi.

Upon receiving the decree at about 6 p.m. on Friday, Erald said he was going to finally "see his home".

"What to do ... I've never really been there," he said.

East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Moch. Dayat, 54, will retire and his position will be filled by National Police chief of detectives Maj. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, 50.

West Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, 53, will take over Da'i's post. Chaeruddin's current position will be filled by the assistant for planning to the National Police chief, Maj. Gen. Adang Daradjatun, 51. Meanwhile, Bali Police chief Brig. Gen. Togar Manatar Sianipar, 52, will be installed as South Sumatra Police chief.

The secretary to the National Central Bureau of Interpol, Brig. Gen. Wayan Ardjana, 54, will fill the post left by Togar.

Wayan will be replaced by National Police chief of detectives in the narcotics division, Brig. Gen. James Daniel Sitorus, 54, and East Java Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Sudirman, 54, will fill the post vacated by James. (ylt)