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.