Encouraging initiative<\/p>\n
Amid the waves of protests that have engulfed Jakarta and
\nother cities throughout this country in the wake of the combined
\nU.S.-British air and missile attacks in Afghanistan, the
\ninitiative taken this week by a small section of Jakarta's
\ncivilian community deserves our attention.<\/p>\n
Concerned about the possibility of violence breaking out in
\ntheir neighborhood and mindful of the fact that the police cannot
\nalways be counted on to be present if and when they are needed,
\nresidents and representatives of businesses located along Jl.
\nJaksa -- a small but bustling side-street in the Kebon Sirih area
\nin Central Jakarta -- on Wednesday took it upon themselves to
\nform a Community Communications Forum Against the Sweeping of
\nForeigners.<\/p>\n
Such \"sweeps\" or \"sweepings\" -- seeking out foreign nationals
\nand forcing them to leave this country -- were conducted by
\nmilitant elements in the Central Javanese city of Surakarta
\nseveral weeks ago. Following that lead, similar threats have been
\nmade by militants in Jakarta and elsewhere in defiance of a
\ngovernment warning that such action would invite stern action by
\nthe authorities.<\/p>\n
Jl. Jaksa's answer to this threat is to intensify the 24-hour
\npatrols along the street -- a security measure that has been in
\nplace for years -- to keep out any intruders who might wish to
\nharm tourists staying or visiting there. In the face of such
\nthreats, though, the Jl. Jaksa Community Forum remains entirely
\npeaceful in its intentions. \"Should there be groups or
\nindividuals who try to enter the street and cause a disturbance,
\nwe will negotiate with them first. If that fails, we will call
\nfor police assistance,\" says Max Wekan, the forum's deputy chief.
\nProving to be as good as their word, residents on Wednesday
\nbarred a group of anti-American protesters from entering the
\nstreet.<\/p>\n
That such an initiative should have come from such an
\ninsignificant side-street as Jl. Jaksa is easy enough to
\nunderstand. For many years, Jl. Jaksa has been a popular place to
\nstay for tourists traveling on a tight budget hailing from
\nEurope, America, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
It would in all probability not be too far off the mark to say
\nthat the concern of Jl. Jaksa's residents and business community
\nis for the most part full of self-interest. With the economic
\nslump continuing to drag on and investors being scared off by the
\nthreats of violence against them, tourism -- or what remains of
\nit -- is at present possibly about the only source of income
\nIndonesians can look to. The stomach, it has been said, cannot
\nwait. The step from commercialism to compassion and humanity,
\nhowever, may not be as long as one may be led to believe.<\/p>\n
Whatever the case may be though, the action taken by the Jl.
\nJaksa community deserves the full support of the city's
\nauthorities. Indeed, it may serve the Jakarta city authorities as
\nan inspiration on how to initiate one of the most effective ways
\nto step up security and order in the Indonesian capital: by
\nencouraging community initiatives.<\/p>\n
So far, the Jl. Jaksa Community Communications Forum Against
\nthe Sweeping of Foreigners has the pledged support of the local
\nsubdistrict head, Sutopo, and, presumably, of the Menteng Police.
\nThat, of course, is good. But it is not enough. Now that Jl.
\nJaksa has set an example, Jakarta's city authorities must take up
\nthe lead and expand this model -- more or less -- of ensuring
\nsecurity and order in the community by encouraging community
\ninitiatives. If Jl. Jaksa can do it, why not other neighborhoods?<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/encouraging-initiative-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}