Officers to continue legal fight over retirement

Officers to continue legal fight over retirement

A number of high-ranking police officers are considering legal
action in the State Administrative Court (PTUN) to challenge the
National Police Headquarters' retirement age policy.

The lawyer for the senior officers, Adnan Buyung Nasution,
said his clients were considering the move after the Supreme
Court suggested in a decree that the officers take legal measures
to resolve the dispute.

"The Supreme Court has not done us any favors. We already knew
that we needed to pursue this matter legally, but we were hoping
that the Supreme Court would further analyze the matter and issue
a clear decision," Adnan told reporters.

The officers, including former Jakarta Police chief Comr. Gen.
Sofjan Jacoeb, do not agree with the National Police decision
which stipulates that they retire at 55. The National Police Law
No. 2/2002 sets the maximum retirement age at 58.

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has defended the
controversial policy, saying that the new retirement age could
not take effect until the government issues operational
regulations.

Sofjan, who capped his career with Jakarta police with the
arrest of fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, and his
colleagues are or are nearing the mandatory retirement age.

Nasution said his clients had opted to go to the Supreme Court
since they wanted this matter to be "dealt with quickly" as it
had already caused enough tension and frustration among police
officers.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Bagir Manan announced that the
protesting police officers could "proceed with the matter legally
via the State Administrative Court". -- JP