Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – The House of Representatives having approved counterterrorism chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian as the next leader of the National Police on Monday, Tito immediately announced plans to reshuffle the institution's upper echelons.
Tito said that there would be replacements, including of the deputy leadership, a post currently held by politically wired Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan.
"I first need to discuss with the President and Wanjakti [the police's rank and promotions council for high-ranking officers]," he explained, refusing, though, to disclose when he would do so.
"Budi is still deputy chief. I don't want to predict anything because the process will need a series of consultations with related stakeholders," he added.
Budi, the best friend of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, was President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's pick last year before he became embroiled in a bribery case that was not cleared until later on in the year.
Tito, a 1987 graduate of the Police Academy, was the sole nominee chosen by Jokowi to replace Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who is to retire from his post by the end of July.
Since Tito is the youngest of five names originally floated as potential candidates, including Budi and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Budi Waseso, speculation is rife that he will replace Budi with a younger figure in order to avoid any challenges to Tito's authority from within the institution.
At the same time, however, he is tasked with maintaining unity in the institution after his installment by maintaining good relationships with his erstwhile seniors, who will become his subordinates.
Insp. Gen. Lutfi Lubihanto, a 1984 graduate of the academy, and Comr. Gen. Syafruddin, a 1985 graduate, have previously been mentioned as the strongest candidates to replace Budi, who may be appointed as National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief, replacing Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sutiyoso.
Tito declined to elaborate further on the planned shake-up, saying only that in the first 100 days of his leadership he would look to implement the priority programs that he elaborated during his confirmation hearing with House Commission III overseeing security, human rights and legal affairs last Thursday.
"What requires our focus in the here and now is to safeguard the upcoming Idul Fitri exodus," he said.
The PDI-P, a party to which Budi has close links, claimed that the internal reshuffle was entirely within Tito's authority, but argued there was no need for a new deputy chief in the near future.
"We don't yet need a replacement, because with the current deputy chief, the situation remains stable. If it's not broken, don't fix it," PDI-P lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu said.
Democratic Party politician Benny Kabur Harman said that Tito should set out his strategic positions and reorganize the upper echelons, but he advised that a senior figure be appointed as deputy police chief in order to maintain internal order. "Experience is important. But it's all up to Tito, with input from the President," Benny said.
More important than plotting a reshuffle, Benny added, was for Tito to come up with an action plan for his first 100 days aimed at internal reform, and particularly at eradicating corruption within the institution.
"Previous police chiefs have proven able to plan, but unable to carry out action. We don't want the same thing now. Tito must keep to his promises," he added.
PDI-P lawmaker Komarudin Watubun Tanawani Mora from the Papua electoral district expressed hope that Tito, a former Papua Police chief, could bring an end to the frequent shootings and gunfights in the region.
"I deliver a message from the Papuans, who hope that Tito can eradicate the gun attacks that occur so frequently in our region and have taken so many lives," Komarudin said.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/tito-signals-major-shake-up.html