By Ati Nurbaiti
After more than 40 years, a Christian has been appointed as head of the Indonesian National Police. General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was sworn in today at a ceremony led by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, replaces General Idham Azis, who has retired.
Prabowo, a 51-year-old Protestant, was promoted to the top post of the police after heading the Criminal Investigation Agency (
Bareskrim).
He was President Jokowi’s only candidate, and his appointment was unanimously approved on January 20 by the People s Representative Council, Indonesia’s lower house of parliament.
The super policeman also received the support of leading Muslim organisations and Islamic clerics in Banten, the province bordering the capital known for its religious conservatism, where he led the local police.