Position of deputy police chief restored

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has issued a decree to reinstate the post of the National Police deputy chief, a position which he had earlier removed.

Dated June 21 this year, presidential decree No. 77 reinstates the position of the National Police deputy chief.

"With the issuance of this decree, there will be no more confusion within the National Police. It is clear who is the deputy chief (Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail) ... the chief is Gen. Surojo Bimantoro," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi told reporters on Friday.

Presidential decree No. 54, dated April 25, 2001, 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.

Abdurrahman then suspended Bimantoro and ordered Chaeruddin to take over Bimantoro's duties.

"Even though decree No. 77 is dated June 21, it is said to have been executed as of June 1, the same day Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin was installed as deputy police chief," Didi said.

As reported earlier, the dispute between Abdurrahman and Bimantoro peaked when the police chief challenged the President's wish to declare a state of civil emergency, a move which would have enabled him to dissolve the House of Representatives. (ylt)