Police set up new desk to handle terrorist attack

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Police announced on Monday that they have set up a new directorate to handle the recent series of blasts around the country.

Besides, the police have also undertaken a major reshuffle to "refresh" the organization of the force.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said the new directorate was established after police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar made a decision on April 25 to reassign 32 high-ranking officers

The antiterrorism directorate, which structurally comes under the Criminal Investigation Department, has as its main tasks the formulation of strategy and policy, and their implementation in the field.

"Headquarters is responding to the challenge of rampant terrorism by establishing a special directorate to deal with bomb outrages," he said.

Previously, antiterrorism activities were handled by police divisions across the country.

Sr. Comr. Pranowo, who was a member of the team investigating the blasts in Bali, Medan and Ujung Pandang, was appointed to lead the new directorate.

Several bombings, including those in Ujung Pandang, Medan and in Jakarta, have occurred since the police uncovered the alleged perpetrators of the bombings in Bali on Oct. 12 last year.

Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika will no longer lead the investigative team for the Bali blasts. Edward said that he would continue to act as an adviser to the team. He did not say who would succeed Pastika as the commander of the team.

Pastika has been appointed the Bali Police chief to replace Brig. Gen. Budi Setiawan, who will now head the police's academy for senior officers (Sespim).

Edward said that the reshuffle was a regular reassignment of police officers.

"The reason (for the reshuffle) is to develop a better structure in the police and to develop the officers' careers," he said at his office.

Aside from the Bali Police, headquarters also reshuffled police chiefs in North Sumatra, Yogyakarta and Lampung.

The North Sumatra Provincial Police will now be led by Brig. Gen. Eddy Soenarno, who was previously the Jakarta Police's deputy chief. He replaced Insp. Gen. I Dewa Ketut Gede Astika, who has been appointed deputy chief of operational affairs.

Former Yogyakarta Police deputy chief Sr. Comr Sudirman replaced his boss Brig. Moh. Saudi, who becomes an adviser to the National Police chief.

The Lampung Police will now be led by Brig. Gen. Trimanto, a former secretary of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), who replaces Brig. Gen. Sugiri. The latter has been appointed the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department at National Police headquarters.