91 arrested in crackdown by Jakarta military

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Garrison arrested 91 people, including 34 soldiers, in a six-and-a-half-hour law and order enforcement operation Friday night.

Jakarta Military Spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said Saturday: "The soldiers were arrested for hanging around in places which are prohibited to the Armed Forces members, while the 57 ordinary people were detained for various reasons, ranging from carrying sharp weapons and drugs to having no identification cards."

He said the operation involved the questioning of motorists, bus drivers and public transportation passengers in front of the Atrium shopping center and on Jl. Gajah Mada, in Central Jakarta; on Jl. Gunung Sahari, in North Jakarta; on Jl. KS. Tubun, in West Jakarta; in the Blok M area in South Jakarta and on Jl. Cakung in East Jakarta.

Officers also raided known prostitution centers, including Kalijodo in West Jakarta and Rawa Malang and Boker, both in East Jakarta.

Discos raided included Malioboro, Exotik and Tanamur, all in Central Jakarta, Lonestar and Prem in North Jakarta, Raja Mas and Atlanta in West Jakarta, Ebony and Be-One in South Jakarta and Bintang Ayu and Lafonte in East Jakarta.

Officers also raided two gambling dens in Central Jakarta, on Jl. Mangga Besar and Jl. Hayam Wuruk which, which according to Nachrowi were camouflaged as entertainment centers.

The operation started at 10 p.m. and ended at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

Nachrowi said all the 91 arrested people were immediately taken to the military garrison headquarters for further questioning.

He said that the soldiers who were arrested in the operation were processed and handed over to the leaders of their military units for punishment.

The 57 other people were later sent to the Jakarta Police headquarters for yet further questioning, he said.

The operation, which was led by the military garrison's deputy operational commander Col. Cav. Bahir Alamsyah, was a routine activity.

"This time, however, the operation was launched simultaneously in the five mayoralties by involving officers of the related organizations," Nachrowi said.

The garrison deployed 510 personnel, including officers from the Jakarta Military Command, the Jakarta Military Police, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, the Navy Police, the Air Force Police, the City's Public Order Office and the City's Tourism Office.

Nachrowi said that the operation was aimed mainly at improving the military's image and at the same time urging people to abide by the existing laws and regulations and maintain discipline.

"Therefore it's better if people always take their identification cards or other identity documents with them if they go out anywhere," he added. (jun)