Farouk Arnaz & Anita Rachman, Jakarta – Despite public calls for the government to disband violent hard-line groups, the sole candidate to lead the National Police on Wednesday did not appear inclined to oblige.
"We should be close to all" societal groups, Comr. Gen. Timur Pradopo told journalists after meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives. However, Timur, did not specifically name the radical Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which has often been involved in violence.
"All elements of society and all public figures that can help maintain security must be included and empowered to help preserve security," Timur told reporters later in the day.
Timur, who was the only candidate President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tapped to be the next National Police chief, added that he had no special relationship with hard-line groups, including the FPI.
"I reiterate that we should involve all sides in our society to overcome problems that could potentially occur in this country," Timur said.
He said that all groups, including FPI, were part of society and as such "could be used to maintain security."
However, he also warned that he would not tolerate any violations of the law, including by members of the FPI. "Upholding the law is our concern," he said.
Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, said that Timur's statement was certainly a setback but was not surprising.
He said it was legally wrong to invite the FPI to help maintain security because the group was not a part of law enforcement. "It will only raise people's concerns, because his statement will provide the FPI room to act more arrogantly," he said.
Bonar also said that Timur was among the founding members of the FPI in 1998. "And he came to the FPI anniversary this year with [Jakarta Governor] Fauzi Bowo, so what he said is not surprising at all," he said.
Bonar accused Yudhoyono of having lost his focus following political maneuvering within his political coalition, and therefore appointing the "wrong officials," including Timur.
Rights activists have accused Timur of being responsible for a number of fatal shootings, including of students during the months of unrest that surrounded the resignation of longtime dictator Suharto in May 1998.
He was chief of the West Jakarta Police at the time, whose jurisdiction included the site of the fatal shooting of four students from Trisakti University in May 1998.
He was Central Jakarta Police chief when 11 people were shot and killed during a protest near the Semanggi overpass in Central Jakarta in November that year.
But on Wednesday, Timur claimed that the judicial process related to the cases had cleared him of any wrongdoing.
"It was a long [legal] process that anybody at the time could watch and follow. However, I welcome anyone who wants to evaluate the case," Timur said.
He argued that he had refused to cooperate when summoned over the shootings by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) because he deemed the shootings to be legal cases and was "only willing to follow the legal process."