The Jakarta Post, May 05, 2004
Maluku Police chief loses job
Abdul Khalik and M. Azis Tunny, Jakarta/Ambon
Another head rolled among the police's top brass on Tuesday, as National Police
chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar dismissed Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Sutrisno
for failing to prevent clashes in Ambon.
In a quick succession of rare dismissals of top police chiefs, Bambang's removal
followed the dismissal of South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Jusuf Manggarabani
on Monday in the wake of a public outcry over the assault by officers of student
protesters at the Indonesian Muslim University in Makassar.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman announced that Bambang would be
replaced by Brig. Gen. Adityawarman, who previously was posted at National Police
Headquarters.
"A hearing of the Police High Council and the results of a visit by police chief (Da'i
Bachtiar) to Maluku concluded that Sutrisno would be replaced by Adityawarman,
who will be posted to Maluku next week," Paiman said.
The council, the highest body in the police force evaluating the performance of
officers, found that Bambang had failed to prevent and contain the conflict, Paiman
said.
Maluku has been relatively peaceful for two years, since a government-sponsored
peace accord in 2002 helped end the violence between Muslims and Christians that
began in 1999.
Bambang said that although he had received a telephone call from Da'i about his
dismissal, he was unaware of the reasons behind the decision.
Residents have criticized the police for failing to prevent the renewed violence that
broke out in Ambon on April 25, when police escorted a group of demonstrators
marking the anniversary of the separatist organization Republic of South Maluku
(RMS).
The organization's annual anniversary is considered sensitive as most RMS members
are Christian, and Muslim residents see their rallies as intentional provocation.
At least 38 people have died and 238 others have been injured in Ambon since April
25, many with gunshot wounds. Police are still investigating reports of snipers
believed to have killed several police officers as well as residents.
Paiman said Bambang's dismissal was only the beginning of an investigation into
whether officers had sided either with Muslims or Christians during the renewed
violence. Security personnel were known to take sides in the earlier round of violence,
which left at least 6,000 people dead.
Although some observers say the conditions for a full return to peace in Maluku are
not yet in place -- such as the prosecution of the masterminds of the 1999 violence
and the resolution of outstanding housing issues -- police have so far focused their
investigation in this new spasm of violence on the RMS and its affiliate organization,
the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM).
Paiman said police had questioned 36 people so far about the violence, including Oly
and Cristina Manuputty, the wife and daughter of FKM leader Alexander Manuputty,
who has fled the country
As of Tuesday, the situation in Ambon seemed to be returning to normal. Public
transportation has begun to operate again, though routes leading out of Ambon are
still blocked off by police to prevent clashes.
As with the violence in 1999, most people prefer to travel out of the city by sea, which
is considered safer although it takes longer and is more expensive.
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