Army mobilizes 15,000 people in city discipline drive
Army mobilizes 15,000 people in city discipline drive
JAKARTA (JP): The City Military Command will mobilize 15,000 youth organization members to enforce discipline in the city, the commander said yesterday.
The 15,000 volunteers will gather tomorrow at the park east of Senayan stadium, Maj. Gen. Wiranto said after meeting with 300 youth organization leaders at City Military headquarters.
They will wear brown vests with the words Kader Penegak Disiplin (Cadre of Discipline Enforcers) emblazoned on the back and carry ID cards while on duty, the general said. "We should accept them and obey them."
Wiranto said that the discipline drive would also be conducted through electronic and print media as well through movie theaters, stickers and banners.
The volunteers will "discipline" jaywalkers, roadside vendors operating at improper sites, litterers and reckless motorists.
However, Wiranto did not comment on how or how much violators would be penalized.
Wiranto said that the mobilization of the 15,000 volunteers is part of the third stage of the National Discipline Drive in Jakarta.
As many as 4,000 Armed Forces members, including policemen, will also be fielded during the third stage of the drive. Prosecutors and judges will also be involved in the campaign and those found violating the city regulations will be tried on the spot. However, Wiranto said, the prosecutors and judges will not be fielded everyday.
Stages
The first stage of the drive started in June this year after President Soeharto launched the national discipline campaign on May 20, National Awakening Day.
The second stage, conducted from July to August, was marked by stiffer actions for violators.
Some 4,000 officers of the Armed Forces, as well as policemen and city administration employees, were mobilized for the second stage campaign.
Dozens of judges and prosecutors also took part in the operation by trying the violators on the spot.
More than 14,000 cases of jaywalking, littering and other violations were recorded during from July to August.
A large number of street vendors, vagrants, prostitutes, drunkards and traffic violators were netted and fined between Rp 3,000 and Rp 30,000.
Despite the city's efforts, Wiranto acknowledged that discipline had yet to catch on in Jakarta.
However, he has not given up on the discipline campaign. "Discipline is important if we are to have qualified human resources," he said, proud of the fact that Jakarta was the first city chosen to launch the nation's first discipline campaign. (29)