[Kabar-indonesia] JP Editorial: New top cop in Jakarta

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post 
Saturday, June 24, 2006

Editorial 

New top cop in Jakarta

After much speculation and rumor, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani 
was replaced after only 22 months in office, handing over his command to 
Insp. Gen. Adang Firman on Wednesday.

Transfers and shuffles are common among government officials and military and 
police forces. But Gani's replacement is noteworthy because he was Jakarta 
Police chief for such a relatively short time.

Gani was appointed top cop in the capital July 16, 2004, replacing Insp. Gen. 
Makbul Padmanagara. It is normal for police and military officers in certain 
key positions to stay in those positions for at least three years. Makbul 
Padmanagara was installed as head of the Jakarta Police on Dec. 19, 2001, being 
replaced by Gani, who moved over from leading the East Java Police, three years 
later, in July 2004.

There have been rumors that the change in leadership at Jakarta Police 
Headquarters has to do with the shifting power at National Police Headquarters. Gani 
was seen as an ally of former National Police chief Gen. Dai Bachtiar, which 
did him no good when Dai was replaced by Gen. Sutanto.

Others have speculated the real reason for Gani's replacement was his failure 
to curb thuggery and violence by hard-line religious and ethnic groups.

Gani, who began his career as a member of the police's elite Mobile Brigade, 
also is seen by some observers as having failed to tackle gambling in the 
capital. After taking over the post, Gani seemed unwilling or unable to do 
anything about gambling. It was only when Gen. Sutanto, soon after taking over the 
National Police, began beating the antigambling drum, were there any noticeable 
efforts to shut down gambling dens here in Jakarta.

Going by the numbers, the Jakarta Police in 2005 did not have a good year. 
According to police data, the number of homicides rose from 60 in 2004 to 71 in 
2005, and robberies increased from 7,402 to 7,658 in the same period.

Gani also failed to deliver on his promise to eliminate thuggery in the city, 
with his initiative to crack down on street crime resulting in the 
apprehension of only 240 suspects.

He also did not live up to his promise to deal firmly with the criminals 
responsible for the frequent violent raids on nightspots. As many observers 
predicted, the police would not or could not deal with individuals and organizations 
responsible for vandalizing cafes, bars and other nightspots.

A more recent example of the police failing to stand firm against criminals 
occurred when participants of a rally opposing the controversial pornography 
bill were harassed by supporters of the bill. Gani's response to the incident 
was disappointing. He did not take seriously complaints from actresses and human 
rights activists who claimed that they were verbally assaulted by bill 
supporters. Gani, in fact, was rather flippant, saying he would have to consult 
language experts about the definitions of the expletives allegedly used against 
the bill opponents.

This caused great concern among the people and eroded public trust in the 
police. The attack on the editorial office of Playboy Indonesia magazine was also 
seemingly "condoned" by the police, which failed to make a single arrest 
despite the presence of scores of eyewitnesses to the vandalism.

Though controversial, Playboy is a legal publication. And even if the courts 
ruled it was illegal, the police still should have prevented the mob from 
taking the law into its own hands. These blatant acts of violence and vandalism, 
and the seeming gross ignorance on the part of the police with regard to the 
groups responsible for the violence, have caused worry among other law 
enforcement agencies and ministries, and has prompted the Cabinet to address the issue.

The capital Jakarta, which is a fast-growing and dynamic city, needs a tough 
police force with creative and firm leadership.

The fact that the Jakarta Police command is short of personnel, funds and 
equipment should not used as an excuse for failing to act firmly and promptly 
against all criminals. Such shortcomings should instead prompt the police to 
improve their cooperation and networking with other groups in the campaign against 
violence.

Jakartans do hope that the new Jakarta Police chief, Adang Firman, will have 
the courage and direction to fight all forms of violence and thuggery, 
including violence committed by ethnic and religious groups. After all, he promised 
when taking over from Gani that vandalism and thuggery were on the top of his 
priority list. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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