Raids do little to restore order: Activists<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Intensive crackdowns on beggars and other people living on the
\nstreet during Ramadhan has done little to restore order in the
\ncity. Instead, the raids are apparently worsening the
\nadministration's fading credibility, activists said.<\/p>\n
Azas Tigor Nainggolan of Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) and
\nTubagus Haryo Karbyanto of Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH
\nJakarta) said the administration under Governor Sutiyoso had
\nfailed to address the real problems.<\/p>\n
\"It is not the presence of the beggars and others who earn
\ntheir living from the street which becomes a problem to the city.
\nBut the city has to find out what brought these people to the
\nstreet and how to provide a way out,\" Tigor told The Jakarta Post
\nlast weekend.<\/p>\n
He argued that the prolonged economic crisis had increased the
\nnumber of low-income people, not only in Jakarta, but all over
\nthe country. A large portion of Jakartans migrated to the capital
\nfrom other areas for economic reasons.<\/p>\n
Since the beginning of Ramadhan on Nov. 6, the Public Order
\nofficers have rounded up hundreds of beggars, prostitutes,
\ntransvestites, lepers and street singers -- whom the government
\nlabeled as people with community and social problems (PMKS).<\/p>\n
Almost 500 people have been put in the jail-like Kedoya
\nrehabilitation center in West Jakarta, a transitory shelter,
\nwhere they are held before being sent either back to their home
\nvillages or to an alternate institution.<\/p>\n
In Kedoya, the \"detainees\" get little help or rehabilitiation,
\nand eventually most will end up back on the streets. Worse,
\npeople who do not fall under the PMKS category may be arrested if
\nthey do not have a valid Jakarta resident's ID card.<\/p>\n
\"Such raids without a follow up or controlling measures are
\npointless, and only create an opportunity for violence when
\npeople are sent to Kedoya or being deported home,\" Tubagus
\nremarked in a separate interview with the Post.<\/p>\n
Tubagus and Tigor suspected the raids were nothing more than a
\nlucrative project as there is a huge amount of money allocated
\nfor the operations.<\/p>\n
Last year, the city budget set aside Rp 40 billion for the
\nCity Public Order Agency while this year, it increased to Rp
\n63.55 billion.<\/p>\n
Tigor suggested that the agency should instead spend most of
\nthat budget to provide real help for the urban poor and to
\nempower them as a humane approach to resolve the poverty problems
\nin the capital, a condition which makes the city prone to crime.<\/p>\n
While Tubagus added that instead of using the money to
\ncrackdown the poor, it would be better to spend it to campaign on
\nhow to be good, productive Jakarta residents and help them lead a
\ndecent life. He referred to the fact that the city administration
\nrefused to legally recognize the rights of people who do not have
\na Jakarta ID card despite the fact that some have been here for
\nyears.<\/p>\n
The city administration conducts the raids based on the city
\nBylaw No. 11\/1988.<\/p>\n
According to the law, the violator could face a maximum of
\nthree months imprisonment or maximum fine of Rp 50,000. But legal
\nprocesses rarely occur following the raids. In many cases, the
\npeople are released after paying bribes.<\/p>\n
Fakta submitted an alternative draft to the council last May,
\nbut there has not been a response to it as yet.<\/p>\n
Bylaw No. 11\/1988 on Public Order in Jakarta<\/p>\n
Article 22: Any individual\/body is banned from asking for aid or
\ncontribution using any means and any excuse, either individually
\nor collectively on the street, in public transportation, at
\nhouses, offices or other public places without written permission
\nfrom the Governor.<\/p>\n
Article 23: Any person who suffers from a disease which annoys
\ncity scenery and causes uneasiness in the community are forbidden
\nto be on the street, green belts of the city, parks and public
\narea.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/raids-do-little-to-restore-order-activists-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}