6,000 people apply for Kamra duty

JAKARTA (JP): Of the 12,000 targeted recruits for the city's People's Security (Kamra), 6,000 have registered with the Jakarta Military Command, an official has said.

However, one-fourth of the number failed to meet the administrative prerequisites, the command's spokesman, Lt. Col. DJ Nachrowi, said on Saturday.

The official, who was quoted by Antara as saying, gave no details on the administrative requirements, which is the first test for those interested in joining the Armed Forces' (ABRI) controversial civilian militia.

As reported earlier, the command started to recruit people for the Kamra force on Jan. 11. Recruitment lasts through March 12 and targets male citizens between 18 and 45 years old. Applicants must have completed junior high school.

Applicants pay nothing to register for the force, which, according to officials, is aimed at assisting police in maintaining law and order and to safeguard the capital during June's general election.

The first recruits who pass the administrative screening test will be trained beginning Monday for two weeks to enhance their discipline, strength and knowledge.

Nachrowi insisted on Saturday that none of the Kamra personnel would be armed with guns or any deadly weapons.

"The Kamra members are not personnel of the People's Resistance (Wanra), who are prepared for war. That's why Kamra won't get any military or gun handling lessons," he said.

"To keep law and order, they of course need healthy bodies ... that's why they need to be taught about physical health. It's also the same with their discipline, which should be bolstered," Nachrowi said.

He added that the recruits' knowledge should be broaden as most of them only graduated from junior high school.

That is why, he emphasized, none of the Kamra personnel would be armed with guns.

Nachrowi said on Wednesday that the recruits would only be equipped with rattan sticks and shields and would not be organized to support certain political parties.

He explained that Kamra members would be supervised by the city police, and would be authorized to carry out various police duties, including checking ID cards, making arrests and taking information from suspects.

The official, however, did not explain why the recruits would be trained at 14 ABRI training centers across the capital.

The training centers include the command's main regimental headquarters in Condet, East Jakarta; the health training center in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta; and the traffic police training center in Serpong, Tangerang.

During the two-week training, each member will receive Rp 100,000. They will receive Rp 200,000 monthly during their deployment. (bsr)