New chief becomes full general

Arghea Desafti Hapsari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 09/30/2008 10:17 AM  |  National

Insp. Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri became a four-star general Monday, a day before being sworn as the successor to National Police chief Gen. Sutanto.

Sutanto, who retires Today, led a ceremony at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta to decorate Bambang as a full general.

After the ceremony, Bambang said that as the new chief he would focus on reforming the police corps.

He also said he would build on Sutanto's efforts to improve the image of the police and to encourage them to be sensitive to culture and human rights.

"We will use this momentum to ensure that this effort to shift the police's behavior will be an ongoing process, Bambang said.

He also said he would ensure that the police force would not show any bias to any political party during the build up to next year's legislative elections, "It is stated in the Constitution that the National Police must remain neutral."

Bambang was appointed chief of police during a plenary session at the House of Representatives last week.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will swear in Bambang today at the State Palace, while the official transfer of command from Sutanto to his successor will take place Oct. 9.

National Police spokesperson Ins. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira told a media gathering Friday that deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara would take temporary charge of the police force during the transition period, which begins Oct. 1.

Sutanto is scheduled to retire on his 58th birthday, which falls today. According to Article 30 (2) of the 2002 Police Force Law, a police officer must retire at 58.

Sutanto was appointed as police chief in 2005, and has received public acclaim for his achievements, including a terrorist raid in Malang, East Java, which ended with the death of the country's then most wanted fugitive, Malaysian national Azahari Bin Husin.

Many have questioned whether Bambang will be able to live up to Sutanto's reputation.

Sutanto said he had faith Bambang would achieve great things, "I believe Bambang will improve the national police," he said.

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