Troubled area police chief removed
Abdul Khalik and Ruslan Sangaji, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Palu
The National Police have assigned an antiterror specialist to head the provincial police in troubled Central Sulawesi, replacing Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha, who will be assigned to a minor post at the headquarters in Jakarta.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said on Monday Taufik would be replaced by the director of general and transnational crimes, Brig. Gen. Aryanto Sutadi, in an attempt to improve security in the province, which has seen a series of murders that are feared could reignite sectarian violence there.
"It is just a normal tour of duty within our institution. However, we hope the shuffle will allow us to serve and protect the public better," said Paiman.
This latest reshuffle involves 13 high-ranking and two middle- ranking officers, including Taufik and Lampung Police chief Brig. Gen. M.D. Primanto.
Taufik will be assigned to the internal monitoring department at National Police Headquarters, while Primanto will serve as a lecturer at the Police Command School, starting next month.
Paiman denied that Taufik's replacement was related to the continued violence and killings in Central Sulawesi.
However, an officer who asked not to be identified said the appointment of Aryanto as police chief of the province had something to do with his success in revealing organizational links between perpetrators of terror attacks in Jakarta and the Central Sulawesi towns of Palu and Poso.
"We managed to arrest several suspects in shooting and bombing cases there, thanks to Aryanto," he said.
A string of killings and bombings have rocked the provincial capital of Palu over the last three months. Only a few years ago, Poso was the scene of bloody sectarian violence that left some 2,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands others.
The conflict has largely subsided since 2003, but sporadic attacks continue to occur.
A woman priest, Susanti Tinulele, was shot and killed while delivering a sermon in June, while four congregation members were wounded.
A special police investigation team has been formed under Aryanto to hunt down the perpetrators of the attack, and to provide security at all places of worship in the town.
In March, prosecutor Ferry Silalahi, 46, was shot and killed outside the residence of lawyer Thomas D. Ihalaw on Jl. Swadaya in Tana Modindi, South Palu.
On the eve of the National Police's announcement of the reshuffle, a homemade bomb exploded near a house on Jl. Pulau Morotai in Poso. The blast smashed several windows but no injuries were reported.
The house's owner, Laikin, said he was outside of the house when the bomb exploded.
"When I got up I found all of the windows were broken. After that I went to the nearest police station," he said.
Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma said the explosion was caused by a low-explosive bomb.
"The explosion was aimed at provoking Poso residents ahead of the inauguration of the local legislature on August 24," Abdi said.
He said the police had tightened security along the four main access roads to Poso. Officers will check the identity cards of those leaving or entering the town, he said.
Reshuffled officers
No. Officer Previous post Current post
1. Taufik Ridha Central Sulawesi Chief Monitoring Department 2. Aryanto Sutadi General Crimes Director Central Sulawesi Chief 3. Adang Firman Police Command School Expert staff 4. M.D. Primanto Lampung Police Chief Police Command School 5. Rasyid Ridho Police Command School Lampung Police Chief 6. Syarwan Djamaan NTB Deputy Chief Police Command School 7. Tommy Trider J. Papua Deputy Chief National Narcotics Agency 8. F.A. Woko National Narcotics Agency Papua Deputy Chief