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NTT governor encourages police to apply for positions within his administration
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat has encouraged police officials to apply for vacant positions within the provincial administration, such as the heads of the Tourism Agency and the Animal Husbandry Agency.
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East Nusa Tenggara Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat (left) poses with deputy Josef Nae Soi after their inauguration at the State Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 5, 2018. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
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ast Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat has encouraged police officials to apply for strategic positions in the provincial administration, despite warnings from watchdogs that such appointments would be a setback for the country’s democracy.
The governor announced the controversial plan during a ceremony to commemorate the National Police’s 74th anniversary at the NTT Police headquarters on Wednesday. In his speech, Viktor said several agency head positions were currently open.
“The positions for the heads of the Tourism Agency and the Animal Husbandry Agency are vacant. […] I think it’s all right if someone from the police wants to fill these positions,” Viktor said, as quoted by kompas.com.
He quickly added that any police officers interested in applying for the positions would be required to retire from the force, as stipulated by the 2002 National Police Law, which requires active police personnel to retire or resign from the force to serve in an official public position.
Read also: Jokowi calls on National Police to uphold humanity, professionalism amid pandemic
A number of police officials currently hold strategic positions in several ministries, tempo.co has reported.
They include Comr. Gen. Andap Budhi Revianto, who serves as the Law and Human Rights Ministry inspector general, Insp. Gen. Reinhard Silitonga, the ministry’s correctional facilities director general, and Comr. Gen. Antam Novambar, the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry's acting secretary-general.
Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) has spoken out against the government allowing police officials to hold positions in the civil service.
“This is alarming. It’s like we are repeating the New Order regime’s depravity,” IPW chairman Neta S. Pane said on June 23, as quoted by tempo.co, referring to the Indonesian Military’s dwi fungsi (dual role) under the leadership of president Suharto.
Netta urged President Joko Widodo not to repeat this mistake and to ensure compliance with prevailing regulations. (vny)
