National Police Chief to visit post-riot Ambon

National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo is scheduled to visit Ambon Thursday noon. Maluku Police announced.

“Maluku Police Chief Brig. Gen. Syarief Gunawan is picking up the National Police Chief at the Pattimura international airport which is located in Laha village in Teluk Dalam,” Maluku police spokesman AKBP Johanis Huwae said Thursday, as quoted by Antara state news agency.

Johanis said that he was uncertain as to Timur’s the exact plans in Ambon, but said that his visit was be related to the recent Ambon riot.

“The National Police chief will meet up with the Regional Council Leaders Forum, religious, community and youth leaders at the Maluku police headquarters once he arrives,” he said.

He added that Timur will be accompanied by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto and Indonesian Army chief Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo in his visit.

The riots in Ambon, which killed seven people, were sparked by rumors that an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver Darwin Saiman, a resident of Waihong, had been tortured to death.

The national police and army sent their personnel to control the condition, immediately after the riots broke.