Police ask for more fund from city administration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi asked
\nthe city administration on Tuesday to increase the allocated
\nbudget for city police because the annual budget was too small to
\nfinance police operations and activities.<\/p>\n
\"We contribute some Rp 6 billion (US$705,882) a day to the
\ncity administration via driver's licenses, vehicle taxes and
\nother revenues. So why do we receive only Rp 900 million, a small
\npercentage of our contribution, a year?\" Nurfaizi told a hearing
\non city security programs at City Council building.<\/p>\n
He did not mention how much the city police should get, but
\nsaid that the budget would not be enough to finance the 18,000
\npolice officers in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi said
\nthe city administration had allocated some Rp 16 billion for the
\npublic order sector in the 2000 city budget.<\/p>\n
\"But it's not only for police, it's also for City Military
\nCommand and other public order forces,\" he said in the meeting,
\nalso attended by several top city police officers.<\/p>\n
The hearing started with a presentation of police agendas and
\nprograms by the Jakarta Police chief of Operational Control, Col.
\nSoenarko.<\/p>\n
Soenarko said tensions would intensify during the period
\nbetween May and August as there were several dates that may lead
\nto student protests or demonstrations.<\/p>\n
\"For example, on May 21 we predict that there will be another
\nprotest for the date commemorates former president Soeharto's
\nresignation from the presidency,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The councillors also asked for police explanations regarding
\nseveral issues like gambling, illegal levies and the recent
\nGlodok riot.<\/p>\n
Nurfaizi said he would bear the responsibility if it is
\ndiscovered that the police violated procedures in handling the
\nGlodok incident.<\/p>\n
\"But regarding the lack of police coordination to handle the
\nunrest, you should ask the National Police,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The police chief, however, did not elaborate on the ongoing
\ninvestigation into the riot.<\/p>\n
\"It's still under investigation. Just wait and see,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Councillors were dissatisfied with the presentation and asked
\nthe police to be more transparent in doing their jobs.<\/p>\n
\"I expected that the officers would give such standard answers
\nto our questions. They can easily shift the responsibility,\"
\ncouncillor Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP)
\nfaction told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"They can say, for instance, it was up to the court to
\nsentence crooks and not the police,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Posman also said police still sing the same old song, blaming
\neverything on lack of funds and personnel.<\/p>\n
\"But they never told us how they manage their resources with
\nso little money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is that we all are willing to learn
\nand improve, including the city councillors,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Similar comments were made by councillor Bimo Hastoro of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction.<\/p>\n
\"City police cannot simply say that they lack money because of
\nthe city's limited budget. What would they do with it if they did
\nhave more money? Have they used what they have effectively?\" he
\nasked.<\/p>\n
He said it was important for the police to improve their bad
\nimage.<\/p>\n
\"They have tried to change their image, such as having
\ndetectives dress in civilian clothes instead of uniforms. But
\nresidents demand more from them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I think it will be a long time before the police can improve
\nits sullied image,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Bimo was confident that residents would gladly help the police
\nif there were signs of improvement in their ranks, however.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Nurfaizi said the Greater Jakarta area has
\nwitnessed 62 cases of street justice with 73 victims, including
\n40 fatalities, in the first five months of this year alone.<\/p>\n
Two of the cases took place in North Jakarta, eight in West
\nJakarta, six in South Jakarta, 16 in East Jakarta, 12 in
\nTangerang, 14 in Bekasi and two in Depok.<\/p>\n
\"Such cases of street justice show that people's law obedience
\nis on the decline,\" he told the councillors. (09\/nvn)<\/p>",
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