"Mr.Vice President backs President Joko Widodo’s decision, and he hopes that the fit and proper test of the police chief candidate can immediately be conducted," Vice Presidential spokesperson Masduki Baidlowi told journalists here on Wednesday.
Vice President Amin considers Purnomo an ideal candidate for the country's police chief post after General Idham Azis' retires, Baidlowi said.
President Widodo has decided to propose one police chief candidate to the House of Representatives (DPR) after a thorough consideration, he said.
The President's decision is also in line with the recommendation of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), he informed, adding that Amin hopes that the new police chief will lead the police institution forward.
Before making his final decision, President Widodo received five police chief candidates -- Coms. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono, Coms. Gen. Boy Rafly Amar, Coms. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coms. Gen. Arief Sulistyanto, and Coms. Gen. Agus Andrianto.
After being selected by the President and approved by the DPR, the new police chief will immediately need to look into several crucial matters, including the fatal police shooting of six FPI members.
A team of investigators from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has concluded its probe into the incident, which drew public and media attention in Indonesia and abroad.
The probe conducted by the commission's investigators, headed by Choirul Anam, lasted around 30 days, starting December 7, 2020.
At a press conference held in Jakarta on January 8, 2021, Anam presented the results of his team's investigation, in addition to several recommendations issued by the commission that are expected to be followed up by the related law enforcement agency.
Komnas HAM, for instance, has recommended a transparent trial at a criminal court on the shooting of the six Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members since the deaths of four members have been categorized as human rights violations.
Anam expressed strong belief that the case cannot be handled internally and instead must be resolved through a law enforcement mechanism at a criminal court.
The commission revealed that the deaths of four of the six guards of FPI leader Habib Rizieq Shihab in an encounter at KM 50 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road on December 7, 2020, constituted a violation of human rights.
Anam contended that their shooting was deemed a human rights violation as the on-duty police officers allegedly gunned down the FPI members without making any effort to prevent further fatalities.
Two other FPI members died as a result of a sideswipe collision between their car and the police vehicle on the road and a reported exchange of fire between them and the cops.
Anam stated that Komnas HAM has identified the executors of the FPI members while adding that the commission has recommended a comprehensive investigation on the FPI members' alleged possession of handguns.
The commission further concluded that 18 gunshot wounds were found on the bodies of the FPI members, identified as Muhammad Reza (20), Muhammad Suci Khadavi (21), Faiz Ahmad Syukur (22), Lutfi Hakim (25), Ahmad Sofiyan (26), and Andi Oktiawan (33). (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fransiska N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
