28 caught without ID cards

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police have rounded up 28 people who were caught without their identification cards (KTP) during an operation at Senen market, an officer said yesterday.

Second Lt. Suharjono, chief detective of the Central Jakarta Police subprecinct, said that seven of the 28 offenders were identified as former prisoners.

The crackdown, Operasi Kilat Jaya, conducted Monday between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., followed a clash at the market between local sidewalk vendors and public order officers on Monday morning.

"The operation was aimed at cracking down on hoodlums and confiscating sharp weapons, drugs and pornographic books," Suharjono said.

The seven former inmates were detained at the Senen Police subprecinct for questioning, while the remaining 21 were sent to a social rehabilitation center in Kedoya, West Jakarta, he said. Failing to carry an official ID card is an offense here.

"Some of them were rounded up on the first floor of the market building and the others were in the parking lot of the market's Blok VI."

Suharjono said that the operation was held at Senen market because the area was increasingly becoming a new hangout for hoodlums and prostitutes.

The police, however, declined to say whether the operation was aimed at searching for the alleged hoodlums who may have provoked Monday's clash.

"The operation was just aimed at hoodlums who are believed to be disturbing business activities. Some vendors have complained about the (hoodlums') presence," Suharjono said.

He admitted that police would safeguard the area for at least a week following the clean-up operation, which was launched by Central Jakarta municipality on Saturday.

During Saturday's operation -- a joint effort with public order officers and members of the Central Jakarta military district and Central Jakarta Police precinct -- 42 sidewalk vendors were notified that they would be relocated to the fourth floor of the market.

But vendors refused to budge when officers came Monday to enforce the order, saying that no buyers would go to the market's fourth floor.

Fifty police officers were keeping an eye on the market yesterday, in particular the parking lot and fourth floor. (04)