Law and order officers<\/p>\n
Some time ago in the red-light district of Malvinas, Bekasi,
\nwest of Jakarta, law and order officers were mobbed by locals for
\nlooting during raids on the prostitution complex.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, a large number of law and order officers
\ndestroyed stalls and a passing van in Kebon Sirih, Central
\nJakarta, and attacked policemen who attempted to stop them.<\/p>\n
The incident in Kebon Sirih began when the law and order
\nofficers were conducting a routine operation to remove
\nunauthorized vendors from the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
The officers caught and beat up a local transport touter, whom
\nthey said was a pickpocket. They became furious when locals came
\nto explain to them that the man they assaulted was not a
\npickpocket.<\/p>\n
Another group of law and order officers arrived at the site,
\nand the fracas exploded.<\/p>\n
What's wrong with the law and order officers?<\/p>\n
These incidents are just examples of uniformed civilians who
\noveract, thinking they are military men. Such an attitude could
\nbe the result of an improper recruitment system. The incidents,
\nin the long run, could disturb their work as those who uphold the
\nlaw with the result that Jakarta will be even more chaotic.<\/p>\n
The law and order officers' show of force was indecent and out
\nof proportion. Vandalizing property and beating people are
\ncompletely unlawful in any situation. The law and order officers
\nmust set a good example of how to make things orderly based on
\nthe law.<\/p>\n
The problem may be in the recruitment and the training. Do
\nthey join the law and order team without any proper tests? Does
\nthe city administration have adequate funds for their routine
\ntraining and guidance?<\/p>\n
The city administration should take the incident as a warning
\nthat more serious attention to the law and order unit is needed
\ndue to its essential function to make the city orderly.<\/p>\n
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After two leaders meet<\/p>\n
Friendship cannot solve all problems. Closeness between two
\nparties is not a guarantee that discord can be avoided.<\/p>\n
The ups and downs of ties between Indonesia and Malaysia could
\nbe cited as an example.<\/p>\n
In recent days the relations between the two countries have
\nbeen strained due to the presence of (Indonesian) illegal workers
\nin Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has decided to take strong measures against the
\nillegal migrant workers and threaten to punish them by canning or
\nfining them.<\/p>\n
Around 480,000 illegal workers have since returned home. This
\nhas created a serious problem for Indonesia, which must allocate
\nat least Rp 30 billion to transport them home. While to train
\nthem to be competitive in the local market would need at least Rp
\n350 billion.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the Indonesian government asked that the
\nremaining 300,000 illegal workers be allowed to stay.
\nLegalization of the workers in Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur is in
\nfact not complicated. However, it is not that easy for the
\nMalaysian government to fulfill such a request.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian employers really need workers from Indonesia,
\nbut the authorities cannot allow illegal workers to remain in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
This issue apparently prompted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nto fly to Bali to meet with Indonesian President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri. The two-day meeting ended on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The two leaders inked deals, including passport-free travel
\nfor Indonesian and Malaysian citizens between the two countries
\nbeginning Jan. 1, 2003. The deal stipulates that Indonesians who
\nwant to enter Malaysia will no longer need passports, and the
\nillegal workers, who have been expelled, will be allowed to
\nreturn after obtaining proper documents from the Indonesian
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The deal is mutual for both countries. For Indonesia, the job
\nseekers will still have the chance to seek work in Malaysia,
\nwhile Malaysia will solve its need for workers for its informal
\nsector.<\/p>\n
Mahathir acknowledged that his country needed Indonesian
\nworkers, but they must enter Malaysia with proper permits.<\/p>\n
It is the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration which is
\nresponsible for issuing permits for job seekers to go abroad.
\nTherefore, the ministry must implement the bilateral agreement
\nproperly.<\/p>\n
Mahathir's message is that big problems could not be solved
\nmerely by friendship.<\/p>\n
He also hopes that the illegal workers' issue does not hamper
\nthe two countries' good ties.<\/p>\n
--Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/law-and-order-officers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }