Woe our police force

It is now clear that President Abdurrahman Wahid is prepared to do just about anything to cling on to power, even to the point of tearing apart the National Police, the very institution that is expected to maintain some semblance of order in this increasingly chaotic country. In the latest episode, the President ordered National Police chief Gen. Soerojo Bimantoro, who has defied his earlier order to be "non-activated", to surrender his commander baton and other responsibilities as the number one figure in the force.

All indications suggest that the President will finally win this battle, which has been going on for more than a month now. There is a limit to how long and how far Bimantoro can defy the President, who, after all, is his boss. Even the House of Representatives, which by law must approve the appointment or replacement of the National Police chief, seems powerless. Since the House was not consulted when Bimantoro was appointed to the post last year, what chance does it have now to block his removal?

Although President Abdurrahman may feel that he has for once settled the leadership issue of the National Police, the controversy has left the force in disarray.

For the past month, the National Police have virtually had two bosses, Bimantoro and Chaeruddin Ismail, who was appointed deputy chief by President Abdurrahman only this month to take over the leadership baton. The National Police are already in a difficult position as it is, undergoing massive internal reform while having to deal with seemingly endless violent unrest in various parts of the archipelago.

Even more disturbing however, is the prospect of the National Police turning into the President's personal tool of power the moment he takes full control of the force. There is no doubt that his fixation to remove Bimantoro this past month is part and parcel of his campaign to cling to the presidency.

His threat to declare a state of emergency if the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) proceeds with its plan to impeach him would not be possible without the cooperation of the National Police. His warning that his supporters would storm the House of Representatives building and disrupt the MPR Special Session next month would not likely materialize if the police were allowed to do their job properly and preempt the supporters from coming to Jakarta in the first place.

The moment the President declares a state of emergency, he needs the police to enforce the many draconian measures that become available at his disposal, including the arrests of political opponents, and, God forbid, the imposition of a news blackout.

Bimantoro has openly refused to go along with the President and is now being made to pay the ultimate price -- his job. The top military leadership has also put up a united front in refusing to cooperate. The President too has been campaigning to have them removed, but he has been less successful.

Now, President Abdurrahman seems to be making some headway in taking control over the National Police. Woe to our police officers, who seem to be having a hard time meeting current challenges. But most of all, woe to the people in this country, who must live not only with a police force that is increasingly in disarray, but also with an increasingly authoritarian president.