Regional leaders misinterpreted

Regional leaders misinterpreted

From Koran Tempo

The recent rejection of Brig. Gen. Ismeralda Lebang as North Sulawesi's regional police chief candidate, which was voiced by various social groups in Manado, is ironic and will be an offensive precedent in similar cases in other provinces.

Professional career promotion within the National Police always considers the assignment of cadres, so that whatever office is chosen for the relevant officer, there is nothing to argue unless the track record is poor.

The resistance of regional communities to military and police functional appointments is in fact relatively more lenient than to governors' designation. However, if such opposition still takes the form of a street demo without clear motivation, it will increase the confusion in interpreting personnel assignment like that involving Ismeralda Lebang. While military and law enforcement institutions are no longer affected by issues of religion, ethnicity or regionalism, it is indeed tragic if career functions are misunderstood in regions.

In the event of other regions imitating the move, the nation will only be wasting its energy to question the eligibility of a region's functional appointment when the relevant post is not filled by an indigenous figure. This also reflects a mistaken application of regional autonomy, with the assumption that all positions must be held by leaders of local or regional origin.

Indonesia should of course be run by the country's best sons, who are ready to be assigned anywhere in this vast archipelago.

ACHMAD TAHIR RATU

Jakarta