Police chief fired over VCD affair

Abdul Khalik and Agus Maryono, Jakarta/Banjarnegara

In an apparent demotion, the National Police have transferred the Banyumas, Central Java, Police chief, Sr. Comr. Andi Mapparesa, to a desk job for giving a speech supporting President Megawati Soekarnoputri's bid for reelection.

Andi had violated an order by National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar that police officers must stay neutral during the legislative and presidential elections, said National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman.

"We have transferred him to headquarters in Jakarta as a human resources officer," he said.

Paiman said headquarters had confirmed that Andi had violated the order in a speech he gave on May 29 during a meeting with police officers' families and retired officers, in which he asked them to support Megawati's reelection bid.

The University of Indonesia Alumni Association (Iluni) released a video last Monday of the meeting, which was held in Banjarnegara regency.

The video clearly showed that Andi and his wife were attempting to encourage support for Megawati by pointing out several disadvantages for the police if a candidate other than Megawati was elected.

Iluni urged Da'i to resign for failing to maintain the impartiality of the police during the elections.

Paiman said that a police team comprising detectives and officers from internal affairs was still investigating the case.

The police have also reported the case to the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) for criminal investigation, he added.

Meanwhile, the Banyumas Panwaslu said that a video store owner identified as Sumadyo was ordered by Bambang, a local police officer, to transfer the recording onto a video compact disc (VCD) and make several copies of it.

It was not clear however whether Bambang had been officially ordered by a superior to have the copies made or did it of his own accord.

Banyumas Panwaslu chairman Jauhar Hatta said that after the copies had been made and handed over to Bambang, one copy was left in the video store.

"This copy was then found and watched by some people there, including Puji Rahardjo, who chairs Banyumas Golkar Youth and is a member of the Wiranto campaign team. Puji then borrowed the copy from Sumadyo and took it home," said Jauhar.

He said that Sumadyo lent the VCD to Puji after the latter assured him that he would be responsible should anything untoward happen.

The police have named Puji as a suspect for distributing copies of the VCD.

Jauhar said his office would coordinate with the national Panwaslu in handling the case, adding that his team had questioned Andi to clarify what had actually happened during the May 29 meeting.

"Andi said he could not remember what he said during the meeting," he added.