Internal rifts, politicking in parliament and presidential interference have heightened tensions over the succession of the police chief, an observer said Friday.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is supposed to submit the names of National Police chief candidate(s) to the House of Representatives this week, but until Friday had yet to select a replacement for incumbent chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri.
Two weeks ago Bambang had proposed two potential candidates to replace himself, but Yudhoyono apparently did not approve of either: National Police training institute chief Comr. Gen. Imam Sudjarwo and National Police general monitoring inspector Comr. Gen. Nanan Sukarna.
“If President Yudhoyono feels OK with both or either candidates, he should have submitted his choice to the parliament,” Indonesian Police Watch chairman Neta S. Pane said.
Neta said both Nanan and Imam were “too young” which could lead to an unhealthy atmosphere among the elite in the police force.
“Seniority sentiment counts. Imam, for example, is six years less senior than Bambang Hendarso, meaning that many police that are more senior than him would be ranked lower.
“He would not be respected and that would be very dangerous for the National Police,” Neta said.
Bambang, who will retire on Oct. 10, graduated from the Police Academy in 1974, while Imam graduated in 1980 and Nanan in 1978.
Usually, a new National Police chief is one or two years less senior — in terms of their year of graduation — than his predecessor.
Sources at the National Police confirmed that resistance for Imam’s candidacy and potential leadership had begun to emerge arising among the police elite.
Imam has been deemed inexperienced in his leadership abilities. Imam has only been a regional police chief once. That was when he led the Bangka-Belitung Police from 2005 to 2008.
Nanan is more experienced than Imam, but he lacks political support both from the parliament and the Presidential Palace, Neta said.
Yudhoyono may have heard about the seniority issue, he said.
“He may pick his own choice of candidate,” Neta said.
Speculation has emerged that Yudhoyono may have three new names to consider. These are Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Timur Pradopo, North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Oegroseno, and National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi.
Both Timur and Oegroseno are 1978 graduates, while Ito is one year more senior.
“In terms of seniority and rank, Ito has a better chance than Timur and Oegroseno,” Neta said.
Ito refused to comment on this.
Speculation also has it that Yudhoyono has ordered Bambang to propose new candidates for the post.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Iskandar Hasan denied the rumors.
“We are sticking with the two names we have submitted,” he told The Jakarta Post.
