Police yet to recognize post of deputy chief

JAKARTA (JP): The post of the National Police deputy chief is still officially unrecognized by the National Police force, despite the fact that the position has been reinstated by a presidential decree.

National Police secretary-general Comr. Gen. Yun Mulyana said on Monday that Presidential Decree No. 77, which reinstated the position of the National Police deputy chief, a post currently occupied by Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, will not be immediately executed.

"The (suspended) National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro has yet to issue a decree on the new police organizational structure," Yun told reporters on Monday.

"The National Police must first reorganize the police organizational structure... particularly considering the President had earlier abolished the post of the National Police deputy chief from the structure, via a decree in April."

Yun added that the National Police were currently organizing matters on the personnel of "the deputy chief, his room, his staff, car and other benefits that come with the job."

"And for all this, the National Police Chief (Gen. Bimantoro) needs to issue a decree first," Yun said.

"Even if Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin was appointed by the President at the presidential palace, mechanisms within the National Police must be followed, as an internal National Police Force priority. There must be an official police installation ceremony."

As reported earlier, prior to the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 77, dated June 21 this year, President Abdurrahman had issued Decree No. 54, dated April 25, 2001, which had removed the post of the National Police deputy chief.

Despite this, Abdurrahman installed Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin as National Police deputy chief on June 1. (ylt)