161 hoodlums arrested during operation

JAKARTA (JP): The authorities announced that they had arrested 161 thugs -- 11 of them shot -- across the city's five mayoralties since Governor Sutiyoso declared war against hoodlums last month, an official said on Tuesday.

"The hoodlums are now under police detention and would be sent to court," City Spokesman Muhayat told reporters at City Hall.

He said the thugs, locally called preman, were arrested for allegedly committing crimes such as carrying sharp weapons and extorting money from traders.

He said that the police, who carried out the operation, were forced to shoot 11 of the thugs, mostly in the legs, as they tried to resist arrest.

"So far there has been no hoodlum shot to death for resisting arrest," Muhayat said.

He did not gave details on the locations of the 11 people shot during the operation, launched by Sutiyoso on April 16.

He said the police arrested 20 thugs in several locations across Central Jakarta, seven in North Jakarta, nine in West Jakarta, 19 in South Jakarta and 96 in East Jakarta.

Besides arresting hoodlums, Muhayat said officers from the mayoralties also gave firm warnings to 255 thugs operating at markets and crossroads, totaling at least 75 locations across the five mayoralties.

"They were warned to stop extorting traders and advised to change their jobs.

"We will continue to monitor the 255 hoodlums," he said.

He said the West Jakarta mayoralty had also warned dozens of hoodlums who were operating at crossroads in Cengkareng, Tomang, Kyai Tapa, Daan Mogot, Tubagus Angke, Slipi and Grogol.

As many as 2,800 of the city's public order officers, including 1,900 civilian police auxiliaries (Banpol) have been deployed to carry out the operation.

City Police had promised to deploy 800 officers while the Indonesian Military would also send their officers depending on the need.

Muhayat said on Tuesday that Rp 4.7 billion (US$427,272) of the funds to finance the one-year-long operation against the thugs would be financed by the City Budget.

He said it was part of the Rp 30 billion fund allocated in the budget for public order operations that had been approved by the City Council.

The cost would mostly cover payment for officers involved in the operation. Each of them is paid Rp 15,000 a day.

The governor declared a war against thugs following recent brawls between them at Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta and Kebayoran Lama market in South Jakarta, during March, in which two people were killed. (jun)