Race for Indonesia's next police chief heats up

With National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis set to enter retirement next month, speculation has been rife as to whom President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will handpick to lead the police force. Idham’s retirement comes at a pivotal time for the police who are under scrutiny following an alleged incident that resulted in the deaths of six Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members. The police’s heavy-handed approach during nationwide protests against the passage of the Job Creation Law last year has also drawn widespread criticism from human rights activists. Analyst Ujang Komarudin said the political nature of the police chief appointment was unavoidable, saying that the President had every reason to pick someone he felt was aligned with his interests and who could help him shape the government's law-enforcement policies in the years ahead. “The President wil…