Thugs to help secure Tanah Abang<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
If you can't beat them, join them. If you can't get rid of them,
\nrecruit them. That seems to be the motto of the city
\nadministration in dealing with thugs in the capital.<\/p>\n
While the city police has tried to tame thugs by force --
\narresting and sending them to jail, the city administration
\nprefers to recruit them as security guards.<\/p>\n
\"We will invite them (thugs) to join the integrated security
\ntask force in Tanah Abang because they have been there for a long
\ntime,\" city market operator PD Pasar Jaya president director
\nPrabowo Soenirman told journalists on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Prabowo made the announcement after he and Central Jakarta
\nMayor Muhayat met Governor Sutiyoso to explain the so-named
\nintegrated security system in the Tanah Abang commercial
\ndistrict.<\/p>\n
Muhayat added that the integrated security system in Tanah
\nAbang, which will involve thugs as security guards, would become
\na pilot project for the integrated security system in certain
\nareas.<\/p>\n
\"If the project in Tanah Abang works, we will apply it in
\nother areas,\" said Muhayat.<\/p>\n
Tanah Abang has a very complicated security problem due to the
\nubiquitous presence of thugs there. Drivers of public
\ntransportation and traders are often easy targets for thugs in
\nthe name of security protection.<\/p>\n
Last month, city police introduced tough measures against
\nthugs, arresting and detaining them. The operation was carried
\nout after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that he had
\nreceived many complaints about thuggery in the capital.<\/p>\n
According to Prabowo, the thugs will be part of around 600
\nsecurity personnel to be deployed at the commercial site, the
\nlargest textile market in Southeast Asia, together with security
\npersonnel recruited from the military and police force.<\/p>\n
\"The integrated security system will only have one command,
\nwhich will be led by Col. (ret) Bambang Sakti,\" he said, adding
\nthat its tasks would include securing Tanah Abang market and
\nseveral other markets.<\/p>\n
The other markets are Kebon Jati, Gandaria, Kebon Melati,
\nCideng and Petojo Enclek.<\/p>\n
Prabowo said street vendors operating in the markets would
\nalso be monitored.<\/p>\n
A blueprint of the area prepared by PD Pasar Jaya shows that
\nthe commercial site will cover 27.26 hectares of land with total
\ninvestment reaching Rp 8 trillion (US$784.31 million).<\/p>\n
The name of the new security system in Tanah Abang will be
\nHulubalng Task Force (Satuan Tugas Hulubalang)<\/p>\n
Bambang said military and police personnel close to retirement
\nage would be invited to join the task force.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thugs-to-help-secure-tanah-abang-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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