Panwaslu urged to examine police neutrality
Panwaslu urged to examine police neutrality
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta/Purwokerto/Yogyakarta
Pressure mounted on Friday on the Election Supervisory Body
(Panwaslu) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into police
neutrality across the country in the wake of the video compact
disc affair that led to the replacement of the Banyumas Police
chief.
Law expert Luhut M. Pangaribuan said it was necessary to
investigate each police precinct across the country to determine
whether the Banyumas case was only one example of institutional
support for the incumbent president, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"The VCD sends a very strong message that the police are not
neutral. It is impossible that a local police chief could hold
such an activity without the knowledge of or orders from his
superior," said Luhut.
He demanded that Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar quit if there
was evidence that other regional police chiefs failed to maintain
neutrality.
The National Police admitted on Thursday that Banyumas Police
chief Sr. Comr. Andi Mapparesa had urged police families and
retirees during a meeting on May 29 in Banjarnegara to vote for
Megawati. The event was videotaped.
Da'i moved Mapparesa to Jakarta for violating his instructions
that the police remain neutral in the election.
Police Watch chairman Rashid Lubis agreed with Luhut, saying
that the non-governmental organization had observed other
regional police officers, including those in North Sumatra and
Bali voice support for Megawati.
"A thorough investigation must be conducted as we have found
similar cases across the country," said Rashid.
Da'i refused on Friday to respond to the demand that he
resign, saying he had taken disciplinary action by replacing
Mapparesa.
"Panwaslu and police internal affairs are handling the case.
We will wait for the result before taking further actions," he
said.
Meanwhile, Mapparesa's wife, Endang Sri Wulaningsih, admitted
to Banyumas' Panwaslu members that during the May 29 meeting she
urged police family members and retired officers to vote for
Megawati.
"As a woman, I persuaded them to vote for Megawati because I
believe she can protect the rights of women," said Endang.
She refuted the accusation that his husband also asked the
audience to vote for Megawati, saying her husband told them to
vote according to their conscience.
Separately, Golkar Youth's Banyumas leader Pudji Rahardjo
sought protection from the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute after
he was named a suspect for distributing the VCD. Pudji denied the
accusation that he had given the VCD to the University of
Indonesia Alumni Association, which then revealed the case to the
public.