Sutiyoso has no policy for eradicating thuggery<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The problem of thugs is very real in the city, with their
\npresence to be found anywhere and everywhere, such as in markets,
\nentertainment centers and public transportation terminals.
\nUnfortunately, the city administration has no program to deal
\nwith them.<\/p>\n
\"We only have civilian police assistants. It is impossible for
\nthem to face temperament thugs,\" Governor Sutiyoso said on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso was responding to a question on his policy on dealing
\nwith thuggery during a meeting with members of House of
\nRepresentatives Commission VI for people's welfare at City Hall.<\/p>\n
He failed to address the question of any administration policy
\nto curb the growing number of hoodlums in the city.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, he told The Jakarta Post that dealing with
\nthuggery was for the police, not the city administration.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso blamed thuggery on the shortage of police personnel.
\nAccording to Sutiyoso, the ratio of police officers and residents
\nis around 1:900, which is far from the ideal of 1:200.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Sutiyoso added that his administration would boost
\nthe number of civilian police assistants (Banpol) in trying to
\nhelp the police do their job, including dealing with thugs.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, however, stressed the need to involve the military
\nin dealing with thugs as he believed that police officers, even
\nassisted by Banpol officers, would not be able to fight them.<\/p>\n
\"I think we should involve the military in facing thugs to
\nmake them tremble,\" said Sutiyoso, adding that soldiers should
\naccompany night patrol police officers.<\/p>\n
Urban observers say the number of hoodlums in urban areas,
\nincluding Jakarta, has grown in line with increasing unemployment
\nsince the financial crisis hit the country in 1997.<\/p>\n
Many people feel intimidated into giving thugs money for fear
\nthat the thugs will harm them otherwise.<\/p>\n
Traders at traditional markets and drivers of public
\ntransportation often complain that they are forced to give thugs
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
For example, public transportation drivers are expected to
\ngive money to around five thugs each way when they pass roads
\nclose to Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Many street vendors also have to pay protection money to local
\nthugs even though they pay security fees to official security
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
A number of businessmen and public figures often hire thugs as
\nsecurity guards or as debt collectors, among other things.<\/p>\n
Recently, more than 200 people led by a number of men claiming
\nto be the guards of businessman Tomy Winata stormed the offices
\nof Tempo newsmagazine and hit journalists, including Tempo's
\nchief editor.<\/p>\n
Tomy, who denied knowledge of the violence, was not happy with
\nan article in Tempo, which reported that Tomy had propose
\nrenovating Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta before fire
\ngutted the market. He claims he made no such proposal.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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