Mixed reactions to planned searches<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The public gave mixed reactions on Friday over
\nthe city police's plan to launch three operations to search for
\nweapons and explosives, fight crimes against public
\ntransportation vehicles and enforce traffic regulations.<\/p>\n
\"I think it's good if the police seriously conducted such
\noperations,\" Yusnaini, a housewife from Ciputat, South Jakarta,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam revealed on
\nTuesday that the police would launch three operations, code-named
\nSapu Jagat Jaya I, Zebra Jaya 2001, and Brantas Jaya 2001, in the
\ncapital starting early next month.<\/p>\n
Anton asked for the public's understanding for any
\ninconvenience caused during the operations, which were aimed at
\nreducing the crime rate in the capital and creating a better
\nliving environment.<\/p>\n
Christine, an employee at a printing company in West Jakarta,
\ncould understand if the police needed to launch such operations
\nbecause the security in the capital is bad.<\/p>\n
\"We know how it feels for women to drive alone after work.
\nIt's better to be stopped by the police and inconvenienced for a
\nfew minutes than to be stopped by criminals,\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
Unlike the two women, Wahana, a Dian taxi driver, questioned
\nthe difference between the planned operations with similar
\noperations frequently held in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to catch criminals, just do it, don't just talk
\na lot. That's their job,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Wahana said he had some bitter experiences with night police
\nraids on motorists, saying police officers had to be given clear
\nguidelines on how to deal with motorists.<\/p>\n
\"We need the police to be more polite to our passengers,
\notherwise passengers will not get into our taxis.<\/p>\n
\"Once I experienced a late night police search when driving
\nalong Jl. Kramat Raya. The officers berated my passengers and
\nasked for money. The passengers then blamed me for not protecting
\nthem,\" he recalled.<\/p>\n
Neta S. Pane from Police Watch, a non-governmental
\norganization, said he was pessimistic on the effectiveness of the
\noperations and hoped the police would not just boast about the
\nplans.<\/p>\n
\"I hope this is not just another police rhetoric, like their
\nsensational announcement on Tommy (former president Soeharto's
\nfugitive son Hutomo Mandala Putra). I'll give them the thumbs-up
\nif they can simply do their tasks right without making any
\npromises to the public,\" Neta said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mixed-reactions-to-planned-searches-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}