Police's anniversary

Police's anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has agreed
to lead a ceremony marking the 55th anniversary of the National
Police on Sunday, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro
said after meeting the President on Saturday.

Bimantoro, accompanied by National Police deputy chief Comr.
Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, met with Abdurrahman at the presidential
palace on Saturday to ask whether the President was willing to
lead the anniversary ceremony, scheduled to take place at
Bhayangkara field in South Jakarta on Sunday morning, Antara
reported.

The President agreed, Bimantoro said. Just in case there is a
sudden emergency, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri will lead
the event, he added.

Bimantoro will be the field commander for Sunday's
anniversary.

Both Abdurrahman and Megawati are slated to attend the modest
ceremony, where their presence is expected to melt ongoing
tension following Abdurrahman's decision to change Bimantoro's
status to "non-active" in late May.

On May 29, Abdurrahman appointed Chaeruddin as deputy national
police chief, a position which no longer existed according to the
National Police's new structure.

Chaeruddin was told to manage "daily police duties", but
Abdurrahman's move drew public criticism and strong opposition
from the majority of senior police officials.

Earlier on Saturday, Bimantoro led a tribute ceremony for
national heroes at Kalibata Hero Cemetery in South Jakarta.
Chaeruddin arrived toward the end of the ceremony and both men
showered the graves of former police figures with flowers.

"We're both getting along just fine ... it is the media who
makes it sound as if we are rivals," Chaeruddin said, describing
his relationship with Bimantoro.

"The most important thing is to maintain unity within the
National Police corps," Bimantoro added.