PKS calls for police chief replacement

Justice Prosperous Party (PKS) faction chief Aboe Bakar Al Habsy says that the President should replace National Gen. Timur Pradopo as the National Police chief following a string of notable poor performances by the police in 2011.

He said that throughout the year, there had been many civil clashes that underlined Pradopo’s incompetence in managing and instructing his men to ensure safety in various areas.

“The President should evaluate the work of the National Police chief,” he said on Wednesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Aboe Bakar explained that based on Pradopo’s record in 2011, it would make sense for the President to search for a new National Police chief.

The country has witnessed a number of civil clashes in 2011, including the one in Papua involving mining giants PT Freeport and the recent riot and killing in Lampung caused by a land dispute between locals and a plantation firm.

The most recent case in Bima saw local protestors violently dispersed by the police, which resulted in two deaths and a several injuries.

Aboe Bakar said that possible police violations in the case should be looked into, despite the police saying that they had handled the case according to procedures.

“It is too early to say that it was according to procedures. It should be investigated first, especially as a video shows that it was a repressive act against locals,” he said.