(12/10/2005)
Local press are reporting that Bali's popular Chief of Police, Irjen Made Mangku Pastika, will soon be promoted to the Jakarta-based post as Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BBN).
The promotion, when formally confirmed, will see the policeman once named Time Asia's Newsmaker of the Year for his role in capturing the Bali bombers assume front line responsibility in Indonesia's war on drugs. The new post would also see Chief Pastika add another star to his epaulet, becoming the equivalent of a three-star general in national law enforcement rankings.
Widely respected for his pro-active support of community policing as part of an overall plan to improve Bali's security, Chief Pastika speaks 6 languages and, as a result, has played a central role in helping Bali tourism communicate its response to terrorism to major overseas markets. Accordingly, Chief Pastika is currently on an official visit to Japan and scheduled to return to Bali on December 14, 2005.
Rumored to be replace Chief Pastika as Head of Bali's Police force is Brigadier General Soenarko who currently heads the Public Relation's Division at National Police Headquarters and who would automatically be promoted to the Inspector General rank upon assuming his Bali position.
Despite widespread page-one reports in the local press announcing the promotions, both Chief Pastika and Soenarko are without comment on the reports, insisting they have yet to receive an official telegram from National Police Headquarters confirming the promotion.
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