Commissioner General Chaerudin Ismail is a police chief without a command baton, his official insignia of office. His technical superior, General Surojo Bimantoro, has to date refused to give that up. A few weeks ago their supreme commander, President Abdurrahman Wahid, declared Bimantoro `non-active' and appointed Chaerudin as deputy to take over his tasks. But Bimantoro has refused to budge.

Asked why he did not simply grab the baton from Biman