NU urges president to Immediately 'send home' police chief

Jakarta, NU Online
Deputy Secretary of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Syaiful Bahri Anshori urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to immediately take decisive measures to resolve disputes between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the police.

"Following the latest news about the conflict between the KPK and the police, especially the police chief and the Criminal Investigation Bureau chief (Kabareskrim), I do expect Bapak President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately deal with (the conflict),"  Syaiful told reporters here over the weekend.<>

According to Syaiful, the president should soon takeover or dismiss police chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri from office for being accused of having made mistakes in handling the case of KPK leaders, namely Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Rianto Somat.

"The police chief and Kabareskrim have easily changed charges and the status of a person," he said, adding that they had changed the case of Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Somat Rianto from civil to criminal without any transparency and clear evidence.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has recently signed a Perppu following a controversy over the police`s decision to name two KPK officials suspects in an alleged power abuse case linked to issuance of travel bans for businessman Anggoro Wijoyo and Djoko Tjandra that led to vacancies in the KPK.

KPK chief Antasari Azhar meawhile has earlier been suspended in connection with his alleged involvement in a murder case.

Following the issuance of the Perppu, the president produced a presidential decree to assign a team of five to select candidates to fill the vacancies in the KPK.

The team members include coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs Widodo AS, minister of justice and human rights Andi Mattalata, presidential advisor Adnan Buyung Nasution, noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and former KPK chief Taufiqurrahman Ruki. (dar)