Parties' task forces ready to end gambling<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Task forces of major political parties have
\nexpressed their readiness to deploy their private troops to help
\nthe Jakarta Administration in its efforts to close down gambling
\ndens in the capital.<\/p>\n
Speaking separately, executives of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Nahdlatul Ulama's youth
\nwing, GP Ansor, and United Development Party (PPP) said the city
\nauthorities, who recently received no support from police, needed
\nassistance with its raids against gambling operators.<\/p>\n
Therefore, they said, their parties have no reluctance to
\ndispatch their tens of thousands of task force members to escort
\nthe city's Public Order personnel in the anti-gambling raids.<\/p>\n
"If the administration asks us for help, we will gladly join
\ntheir raids," said deputy chief of the Jakarta chapter of PDI
\nPerjuangan Ishak Iskandar.<\/p>\n
Ishak suggested good coordination with the police to avoid
\nproblems and misunderstandings.<\/p>\n
"The raid must be conducted under one command, which is the
\nadministration, and the police should be informed to avoid any
\nmisinterpretation of our participation," he said, adding that his
\nparty's task force has some 10,000 personnel in the capital.<\/p>\n
If necessary, PDI Perjuangan would arm its personnel with
\nwooden clubs for self-defense, Ishak added.<\/p>\n
GP Ansor's task force chief, Tatang Hidayat, offered similar
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
According to him, his group -- as part of society -- would do
\nits best to secure the administration's policies and programs,
\nincluding halting illegal activities, such as gambling.<\/p>\n
"Such activities are also forbidden in Islamic teaching. We
\nwill fully support the administration," Tatang said.<\/p>\n
But, he added, GP Ansor with its 10,000 personnel in the city
\nwill use different methods in helping Jakarta curb gambling.<\/p>\n
"We'll use persuasive means by approaching people allegedly
\ninvolved in the gambling practices to deter them. We believe that
\nthe tongue is sharper than a sword," Tatang added.<\/p>\n
At a media conference on Saturday, Djaffar Badjeber of PPP
\nsaid: "We are ready to deploy our personnel to support the
\nadministration's program," adding that the party's security force
\nin Jakarta currently numbers some 5,000 people.<\/p>\n
In response to public willingness to assist the authorities,
\nGovernor Sutiyoso said that he strongly approved the plan of the
\nparties.<\/p>\n
"We welcome any public support. It can be in the form of
\ninformation or reinforcement. However, the reinforcement must be
\nstrictly under the administration's command," he said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso insisted that his administration and personnel had
\nnothing to fear in conducting raids against amusement centers
\ninvolved in gambling, even if they are linked to people with
\npower.<\/p>\n
"Their resistance last week showed that there are powerful
\npeople behind the businesses," he told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n
"We plan to continue the raids," Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
Last Wednesday, nine personnel from the City Public Order
\noffice were slightly injured by guards of several amusement
\ncenters during efforts, without the police, to seal gambling dens
\nat Mangga Dua Harco electronics center in Central Jakarta. (lup)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/parties-task-forces-ready-to-end-gambling-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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