Let's curb crime<\/p>\n
Three unidentified men in an Isuzu Panther van robbed Abdul
\nNasir, a 40-year-old Singaporean, of his Kijang van in Cikarang,
\nBekasi, West Java, on Saturday. Blindfolded and tied up, Nasir
\nand his partner Nia were dumped on the roadside and the thieves
\nmade away with his vehicle.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the same day, two people stole a bag containing Rp
\n4 million cash from a Japanese national, Ichida, in Kembangan,
\nWest Jakarta. Ichida and her driver were busy replacing a flat
\ntire on the car when two men on a motorcycle approached and the
\npillion rider snatched Ichida's hand bag and escaped on their
\nmotorcycle.<\/p>\n
The two robberies are just more depressing evidence that
\ncriminal acts can take place anywhere at anytime in Greater
\nJakarta. Thus they must become a reminder to Jakarta Police Chief
\nInsp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara to improve law and order. Security
\nin Jakarta needs serious attention and action as the capital
\ncity's security is the barometer of other areas in this country.<\/p>\n
Makbul has said that the city crime rates in 2003 would remain
\nhigh. National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has also
\nemphasized in his year-end press briefing that armed robbery
\nwould remain high in 2003.<\/p>\n
This means that police are admitting that they cannot
\ncompletely prevent or deter crime, and thus people's
\nparticipation in enhancing security in their neighborhoods is
\nvital.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, in this society we cannot leave the security in
\nthe hands of the police as security is the concern of all
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
-- Suara Karya, Jakarta<\/p>\n
;;
\nANPAk..r..
\nOtherop-ETimor-unfortunate
\nUnfortunate East Timor
\n2<\/p>\n
Unfortunate East Timor<\/p>\n
There has been little good news from East Timor since its
\nindependence on May 20, 2002.<\/p>\n
The bloody incident on Saturday, Jan. 4, has obviously shocked
\nmany people. A group of people garbed in balaclavas attacked
\nresidential areas in the district of Atsabe, killing three locals
\nand injuring some others.<\/p>\n
The bloody attacks are particularly sensitive as the
\nassailants were allegedly former militiamen who had supported
\nEast Timor's integration with Indonesia. Indeed, East Timor's
\npresidential palace Chief of Staff Agio Pereira tended to confirm
\nthat the assailants were former pro-Jakarta militiamen. Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Jose Ramos-Horta had earlier stated that
\nformer pro-Jakarta militiamen were involved in the Dec. 4, 2002,
\nriots in Dili. Two people were killed in the clashes.<\/p>\n
However, no one has been able to explain whether the attacks
\nwere \"officially\" ordered, or were carried out by individuals
\nacting on their own initiative.<\/p>\n
Anyway, these attacks are very serious and need to be dealt
\nwith promptly and properly.<\/p>\n
Since its independence, East Timor has been facing very
\nserious economic problems. The prices of goods and staple foods
\nhave been soaring while purchasing power has been declining. The
\nyouth unemployment rate stands at 80 percent. The frustrations
\nfelt by the pro-integration group have manifested themselves
\nthrough attacks on independence supporters. Economically, the
\ntiny country, with a population of only 700,000, is still very
\nweak.<\/p>\n
However, it is impossible for the East Timorese people to turn
\nback the clock. They have made their choice - after 450 years of
\nbeing colonized by Portugal and twenty-four years of integration
\nwith Indonesia - to become an independent nation.<\/p>\n
The development and the future of the country depends on
\naccountability and cooperation between its government and
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
The East Timor government and citizens should have been aware
\nthat there are limits on the amount of foreign aid that will be
\nforthcoming.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>\n
;;
\nANPAk..r..
\nOtherop-DPR-Pilate
\nDPR must not act like Pilate
\n3<\/p>\n
DPR must not act like Pilate<\/p>\n
The recent demonstrations and protests against the increases
\nin fuel, electricity and telephone charges -- which have led to
\nknock-on increases in the prices of staple foods and other basic
\ncommodities -- represent a very serious problem.<\/p>\n
It is no wonder that many people are seeking the best solution
\nfor dealing with this problem. People's Consultative Assembly
\nSpeaker Amien Rais has also voiced his opinions in this regard.<\/p>\n
He has supported the \"Caucus to Rescue the Country\", which has
\nbeen set up by a number of politicians from the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR). He has also proposed that the government
\nmeet with the House to review the recently announced government
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
The establishment of this Caucus reflects both House members'
\ndesire for confrontation (with the government) and their efforts
\nto wash their hands of the problem, loading all the adverse
\nresults of the controversial decisions made by the government and
\napproved by the House onto the shoulders of the government.<\/p>\n
Amien's proposal for a meeting between the House and the
\nexecutive sounds rational and acceptable. To blame the Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri administration alone for the problem is not fair,
\nas the decision to increase fuel, electricity and telephone
\ncharges was approved by the House before being made public. If
\nthe decision is found to be legally defective, then the House
\nshould also be held responsible for this.<\/p>\n
The House should not pretend to have been surprised to hear
\nabout the increases in the price of goods following the hike in
\nfuel, electricity and telephone charges.<\/p>\n
-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lets-curb-crime-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }