May riots bring riches to military officers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In one man's misery lies another's good fortune
\nsums up the windfall for military members following the May
\nriots. In the climate of fear still prevailing in the city, many
\nsoldiers were paid handsomely for a few days' work of guarding a
\nprivate home.<\/p>\n
In calmer times, the guarding of a residential area was
\nentrusted to the civilian security unit personnel, or satpam,
\nusually positioned at the entrance or exit of the area. Many
\nresidents also hired their own household guards.<\/p>\n
The May riots brought home with a thud the inability of a
\nsmall band of guards to do much against mobs bent on looting and
\nvandalism. Many residents now want security beefed up, including
\nguards with safety equipment like firearms, tear gas and armored
\nvehicles, to act as a deterrent against rampaging mobs.<\/p>\n
Military members fit the bill. Susy, not her real name, who
\nsells auto accessories and lives in an elite housing complex in
\nNorth Jakarta, said her neighborhood was plundered during the
\nunrest even though most of the houses were guarded by private
\nsecurity guards.<\/p>\n
A few days after the riots the residents demanded from the
\ncomplex's management a guarantee of the safety of their property.
\nAfter several tough discussions, an agreement was reached to
\nincrease the number of guard checkpoints, construct barricades at
\nall the access points and request the aid of about 30 military
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
Susy, a mother of one, said the presence of the military made
\nher feel more secure when she stayed home alone. The soldiers are
\naccommodated in empty houses and shop-houses, and each household
\ncontributes Rp 500,000 a month for their services.<\/p>\n
The military is on a 24-hour vigil and occasionally patrols
\nthe complex, especially the border area between the residential
\ncomplex and the outside neighborhood. The soldiers and residents
\nare on familiar terms, with the latter sometimes giving food or
\ntips. \"Yes, it keeps their spirits high to maintain security
\nhere,\" Susy said with a smile.<\/p>\n
Alex, not his real name, also pays for military protection but
\nhe escaped Susy's harrowing experience. Alex, a private bank
\nmanager living in an elite housing complex in North Jakarta, said
\nthe residents heard rumors of the riots a few days before they
\nhappened. Each home contributed Rp 25,000 per week to have
\nmilitary personnel in the area, complete with armored vehicles to
\nguard the entrance of the large housing complex the size of an
\nindependent town.<\/p>\n
The complex was spared during the riots.<\/p>\n
Alex said he did not know the exact cost of the military
\nservices because it was handled by the complex management.<\/p>\n
Alex said he felt safe staying at home during the critical
\nperiod. He heard from many friends living in other residential
\ncomplexes that they did not want to remain in their homes and
\nthere were some who even fled abroad due to fears of a mass
\nattack. He believed the military personnel guarding his area had
\na big role in maintaining the safety in the area. They guarded
\neach entrance and exit, and diligently patrolled the complex.<\/p>\n
Agus, not his real name, an ethnic Chinese timber trader, also
\nsought the help of the military. He lives in South Jakarta and
\nknew an officer from one of the Armed Forces. He asked his friend
\nto send one of his men to guard his house.<\/p>\n
His friend dispatched a young sergeant who stayed in the house
\nfor two weeks. However, the sergeant did not stay the whole day
\nbecause he was on duty during the morning. He arrived at 2 p.m.
\nand stayed until morning.<\/p>\n
Agus handed over Rp 7 million to his friend and the sergeant.
\nBut he felt the expense was worth his peace of mind. He did not
\nhave to worry about his personal safety or that of his family
\nduring the critical times.<\/p>\n
Sgt. Ridwan, not his real name, agreed the riots had indeed
\nbrought luck to some members of the military. He said that the
\nday after the riots his superior told him to stand guard at his
\nfriend's house.<\/p>\n
Ridwan received millions of rupiah to stay round the clock for
\nfour days. His superior's friend, a businessman who lives in an
\nelite residential area, was \"generous\" as he also provided free
\nmeals and drinks and allotted a daily bonus of thousands of
\nrupiah.<\/p>\n
Of course, he had no difficulty in getting four days' leave
\nbecause his superior had assigned him to outside duty. Ridwan,
\nwhose is based in South Jakarta, said he was not the only one of
\nhis colleagues to profit from the riot fallout.<\/p>\n
One of Ridwan's friends guarded a banker's house for one month
\nand was compensated so well that he bought a car. As for the
\nleave from his unit, it could be arranged with the superior,
\naccording to Ridwan. The well-built bachelor said his side job
\ndid not endanger his military career because it all was in the
\nline of duty according to his superior's assignment.<\/p>\n
Amir, not his real name, whose headquarters are in East
\nJakarta, admitted he was asked repeatedly to guard a residential
\ncomplex after the riots.<\/p>\n
According to the officer, he and his men were requested by
\nseveral \"community members\" to patrol an area home to a number of
\nluxurious houses. They complied, but he did not wear a uniform
\nfor fear he would be spotted moonlighting.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot wear my uniform because there is an authority in the
\narea,\" he said.<\/p>\n
-- The article is a translation of a piece from the September
\nedition of Tiara monthly. It is printed here courtesy of Tiara.<\/p>",
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