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Race for Indonesia's next police chief heats up
With National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis entering retirement next month, speculation has been rife as to whom President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will handpick to lead the police force.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo shakes hands with National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis after the police general's inauguration as the nation's top cop at the State Palace on Nov. 2, 2019. (JP/Seto Wardhana) (JP/Seto Wardhana)
W
ith National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis set to enter retirement next month, speculation has been rife as to whom President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will handpick to lead the police force.
Idham’s retirement comes at a pivotal time for the police who are under scrutiny following an alleged incident that resulted in the deaths of six Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members. The police’s heavy-handed approach during nationwide protests against the passage of the Job Creation Law last year has also drawn widespread criticism from human rights activists.
Analyst Ujang Komarudin said the political nature of the police chief appointment was unavoidable, saying that the President had every reason to pick someone he felt was aligned with his interests and who could help him shape the government's law-enforcement policies in the years ahead.
“The President will surely seek a police chief that he is comfortable with, who will also ‘secure’ his policies,” Ujang told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Read also: In 2019, Jokowi keeps friends close, enemies closer
Idham submitted a letter to Jokowi on Tuesday, notifying the President of his upcoming retirement, said National Police spokesman Argo Yuwono. “Idham did not nominate any name. He [only] informed me that he will enter the retirement period on Feb. 1," Argo said on Wednesday as quoted by tempo.co.
Several names have been floated as potential Idham successors, such as his deputy chief Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono, the police’s security management agency (Baharkam) head, Comr. Gen. Agus Andrianto, and National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar -- all of whom are three-star generals.
