Armando Siahaan & Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – A top official on Wednesday confirmed speculation that the sole candidate to head the National Police was chosen to prevent polarizing the force.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono proposed Comr. Gen. Timur Pradopo to the House of Representatives on Oct. 4, just hours after Timur had been promoted to a three-star general.
Timur's nomination came as a surprise because up to that point all the discussion had focused on two other candidates – Comr. Gen. Nanan Soekarna and Comr. Gen. Imam Sudjarwo.
Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for political, judicial and security affairs, speaking as the head of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), told lawmakers on Wednesday that Nanan and Imam were dropped from consideration because they were seen as divisive choices.
"There was a polarization," Djoko said. "The president thought the polarization was not good for the development of the National Police." Consequently, he said, the president saw the need for an alternative candidate.
Djoko said National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri in June had submitted the names of eight potential candidates to Kompolnas, as the body that would assist the president in choosing the final candidate. Timur was on the list.
"His name was submitted by the National Police chief. [The nomination] was in accordance with the usual process," Djoko said.
He also denied the nomination was a last-minute decision. Djoko said the final decision was made on Oct. 4, but the consultation process began a few days earlier, involving the vice president, the head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the National Police chief. Other candidates on the short list were also considered, he said.
Trimedya Panjaitan, a lawmaker from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), demanded that Kompolnas release all of its correspondence with the president, including letters containing the eight candidates and the final choice.
"Everything so far has just been rumor, even in the House," Trimedya said, adding that the actual letters would provide legitimacy for Timur's nomination.
Bambang Soesatyo, a lawmaker from the Golkar Party, criticized the nomination process, saying the president and Kompolnas should have been better prepared. "They should have been preparing for a year to name the police chief's replacement. We knew for a while when the current chief was retiring" he said.
Syarifuddin Sudding, a lawmaker from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), questioned why the president decided to nominate a two-star general and suspiciously accelerate his promotion.
Despite of the questions and criticism, Marwan Ja'far, from the National Awakening Party (PKB), said all the parties in the House, including PDI-P, had agreed to back Timur's nomination.
"I am positive that his nomination for police chief will be smooth, and will not face any significant resistance from any party," Marwan said. He added that a spat between lawmakers and House leaders who held a private meeting with Timur was unlikely to trouble the process of approving the nomination.