For a safer Jakarta<\/p>\n
All megacities have their dark sides. Calcutta has long been
\nknown for its slums and homeless population, Rio de Janeiro for
\nits street children, New York for its crime and Bangkok for its
\ntraffic jams. Jakarta has also been condemned by many as a \"gas
\nchamber\" for its uncontrolled pollution, caused mainly by motor
\nvehicles.<\/p>\n
Inattention to the mounting problems could result in Jakarta
\nbecoming an unsafe city. Reports of rape, drug trafficking,
\ntheft, hold-ups, purse snatchings and pickpocketing are an almost
\ndaily occurrence. The Jakarta Military Chief, Maj. Gen. Wiranto,
\nadmitted a few months ago that the level of crime in the capital
\ncity was \"insane\" and intolerable.<\/p>\n
It appears that President Soeharto has also felt the pinch. In
\na remark last July he called for more concerted efforts to
\ncontain crime and violence in big cities, particularly Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Many expatriates agree that crime in Jakarta is on the rise. A
\nfortnight ago the Japanese and Korean communities in Jakarta, in
\na specially organized meeting with the city police, raised the
\nproblem. They complained that the Blok M area is a nest of
\npickpockets and that it is not safe even in broad daylight to
\nwalk along Jl. Thamrin. They continue to be bewildered by the
\npeople who routinely visit their homes asking for donations,
\nfully equipped with papers bearing official-looking stamps and
\nmarkings.<\/p>\n
A crime occurred every 20 minutes and 21 seconds in Jakarta
\nlast year, which was quite an improvement over the 1993 figure if
\na crime taking place every 16 minutes and 30 seconds. But who
\nbelieves in statistics or even cares about them? Moreover, many
\ncrimes are never reported.<\/p>\n
The core of the issue lies not in statistical records but more
\nin the fear for one's personal safety. If one feels unsafe in a
\ncrowded place, or if motorists have to worry that some hoodlums
\nare planting nails in the street to flatten their car tires
\nbefore attacking them with a knife, then the city is not safe.<\/p>\n
One could put the blame on the city police. However, before
\ndoing so, we should all be aware of these facts: Jakarta is home
\nto some 11 million people inhabiting an area of 650 square
\nkilometers, which is patrolled by 15,000 police officers with
\napproximately 100 cars and 300 motorcycles.<\/p>\n
Police motorcycles are supplied with only three liters of gas
\nfor every 24 hours and a car gets seven liters of gas per day,
\njust enough for a 35-kilometer trip.<\/p>\n
Such a supply is woefully inadequate for the underpaid city
\npolice to handle the rising crime wave. To a certain extent, the
\npublic should be asked to participate in the fight against crime,
\nwhile calling in the troops should only be an interim measure.<\/p>\n
If crime is a social ill caused by economic pressures, social
\nconditions should be improved. However, to say that increasing
\nthe number of police personnel, raising their salaries and
\noperation funds and giving them better training and equipment
\nwould solve the problem is an oversimplification. Certainly it
\nwill take more than that.<\/p>\n
Before anything really productive can be done, the public
\nshould be able to trust the police and be confident that they are
\nimmune to bribery. The public needs to be assured that if a crime
\nis reported they will get an instant response and not be
\nextorted, and that if one is taken into custody one will not be
\nabused or subject to torture.<\/p>\n
In short, an effective fight against crime will only become
\npossible if our police officers are respected by the public as
\nhonest individuals and tough law enforcers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/for-a-safer-jakarta-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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