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