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Jokowi must let public opinion matter in police chief choice: LBH Jakarta
The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) has warned that if President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo presses on with his choice of Comr
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T
he Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) has warned that if President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo presses on with his choice of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan for National Police chief, the public will seriously question the credibility of his law enforcement system.
The institution called for the House of Representatives to reject the choice of Budi Gunawan as potential National Police chief and urged President Jokowi to accept input from the people regarding the choice.
Budi Gunawan was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Tuesday afternoon over allegations of bribery and graft during his tenure in the National Police's Career Development Division between 2004 and 2006.
LBH Jakarta director Febi Yonesta said that Jokowi should have used the approach that gave him his popular image, which was to consult the opinions of the people, along with those of the KPK, Tax General Directorate, the Human Rights Commission and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) before he made his choice.
'The president has more or less repeated a similar mistake to hastily change and choose a candidate for National Police chief because of political pressure, neglecting the candidate's track record in the process,' Febi said on Tuesday in a statement obtained by The Jakarta Post.
Febi noted that choosing a leader for the National Police is an important priority as it will reflect the Jokowi administration's commitment toward the reform of Indonesia's law enforcement system, as well as the militaristic police culture that has lead to allegations of police brutality in some cases.
Jokowi's declaration of Budi as his sole candidate for National Police chief has raised eyebrows, particularly over the seeming hastiness of Budi's candidacy. He would replace the outgoing chief, Gen. Sutarman, who is expected to retire in October this year. (nfo)(+++)
