Unemployment conflicts with Operation Cleansing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing Operation Cleansing will not be able
\nto completely crack down on crime as long as unemployment
\nprevails, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja says.<\/p>\n
\"The facts show that despite the aggressive operation,
\nrobberies on the public buses continue,\" Surjadi said during his
\nvisit to Senen and Kramat subdistricts, Central Jakarta, over the
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
The governor inspects two subdistricts every Friday.<\/p>\n
Surjadi noted that the rise in criminal activity, which
\npropelled the launching of Operasi Bersih under the sponsorship
\nof the Jakarta Military Command on April 11, was a consequence of
\nthe rise in the unemployment rate. He said it also indicates that
\nthe city is already unable to house its residents.<\/p>\n
\"It is clear the city is already full enough. The migrants
\nhave far outnumbered the job opportunities available. This has
\nforced many people, especially the less educated, to resort to
\ncrime,\" said the governor.<\/p>\n
At present there are 8.5 million people registered as city
\nresidents and another 1.5 million people come every day from
\noutside Jakarta to make a living, he said.<\/p>\n
As far as the gap between the migrants and job opportunities
\nprevails, criminal activities will continue unabated, meaning
\nOperation Cleansing will never be able to completely accomplish
\nits goal of stopping crime, he added.<\/p>\n
Like Surjadi, experts have repeatedly observed that unless the
\nhigh unemployment rate is attacked, Operation Cleansing will only
\nsucceed temporarily.<\/p>\n
In his response, Maj. Gen. Hendropriyono promised that the
\noperation will go on without any specified deadline.<\/p>\n
Squatters<\/p>\n
Surjadi said that because of the prevalent poverty he has
\ndecided to put population affairs as his administrations top
\npriority.<\/p>\n
The municipality, he said, will gradually change slum areas to
\napartments so that many people can live decently.<\/p>\n
\"There is no alternative for us but living in apartments.
\nThere is too little idle space remaining,\" Surjadi told the
\nresidents of both subdistricts.<\/p>\n
To discourage the less-educated people from migrating to the
\ncity, Surjadi told the subdistricts' officials to constantly keep
\na close watch on their area to prevent newcomers from settling
\ndown on idle state land.<\/p>\n
\"It is easy to handle if the squatters are only two. If they
\nturn up in a great number, there will be \"stone wars\" when we try
\nto remove them from even the land which does not belong to them,\"
\nsaid Surjadi.<\/p>\n
He specifically referred to the recent stone-throwing
\nincidents in West Tebet subdistrict, where some 230 families
\nliving on state land have refused to move from the area after
\ntheir homes were razed by a mysterious fire.<\/p>\n
The police failed to occupy the land by force after a tear-gas
\nhurling and stone throwing melee with the residents who turned
\ndown an apartment plan proposed by the municipality, which would
\nleave most of them homeless.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said the difficulty in settlement faced by the less-
\neducated migrants would in turn deter other people from migrating
\nto the city.<\/p>\n
\"What thus far has happened is the migrants have persuaded
\ntheir fellow villagers to follow them, saying 'Let's go in mass
\nto Jakarta. We can settle down on state land. If we are later
\nremoved from there, we are entitled to some damages and even to
\napartments',\" said Surjadi.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said the harsh methods he ordered his staff to use are
\nnot inhumane. (jsk)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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