Police Reject President’s Ouster of National Chief
Police commanders and key legislators dealt President Abdurrahman Wahid another blow, rejecting his decision to oust the national police chief.
Enraged that police killed one of his supporters in protests in his home province, Wahid requested the resignation of Gen. Suroyo Bimantoro on Friday and ordered the deputy chief to assume command of the country’s 220,000 officers.
But in separate statements, most of the country’s police leadership and several parliamentary leaders accused Wahid of trying to politicize the police and said they would not stand for it. Bimantoro has refused to step down.
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