Arrogant officials in ID operation to be punished
Arrogant officials in ID operation to be punished
JAKARTA (JP): The head of the City Population Agency,
Soemarto, said yesterday that he would punish his subordinates
who were found guilty of asking for people's travel documents
during an identification card operation.
Soemarto made the remark after attending an installation
ceremony for new City Council members. He said there was no
regulation which stipulated that people from other cities had to
bring travel documents to enter Jakarta.
The operation, which was launched Monday, sparked a public
outcry when people holding ID cards from other cities were fined
between Rp 5,000 (US$2.08) and Rp 20,000 each. The officers in
charge of the operation asked people who were netted to present
travel documents if they were not from Jakarta.
"It's not true that people have to bring travel documents
here. I've never ordered officials to ask for them either,"
Soemarto said.
He promised to take stern action against officials, who
overacted in the operation. "I'll punish them," Soemarto said.
He said there was no need for commuters, who only work in the
city, to bring travel documents. "Their ID cards are enough, they
can come to the city anytime," Soemarto said.
He said Deputy Governor of Administrative Affairs Idroes
ordered him to evaluate the operation and to investigate whether
officials violated the regulation.
Many were critical of the way travel documents were asked for
and fines for those not having Jakarta ID cards.
Former City Council speaker M.H. Ritonga said that by asking
for travel documents from people, there would be an impression
that the capital was not safe.
On Wednesday, out of the 1,600 people checked in West
Jakarta's Kapuk subdistrict, 141 were fined for not having
Jakarta ID cards, while another 182 people were fined in a
similar operation in Palmerah, West Jakarta, on Tuesday.
The operation was scheduled to be continued Monday in Tegal
Alur subdistrict, West Jakarta, and Pademangan subdistrict, North
Jakarta.
An official of West Jakarta's population agency said the
operation in Tegal Alur would probably be 'more lucrative' since
the area was known as an ethnic Chinese area.
He believed officers would not only find people who did not
have ID cards, but others with no documentation of Indonesian
nationality as well.
A door-to-door operation in Tegal Alur and Pademangan would be
implemented, since the previous operation was considered less
effective, he said.
The chief of supervision of the City Population Agency,
Soedarsono, said he evaluated the previous operation, which was
conducted on streets by stopping passersby and passengers of
public transport.
He said officers had difficulties identifying people and their
violations when the operation took place on the streets.
Soedarsono said the target of the door-to-door operation was
no longer motorists and passengers, but residents, housemaids and
students in rented houses.
He called on house owners to open their doors to officers and
let them check IDs. (jun/ste)
JAKARTA (JP): The head of the City Population Agency,
Soemarto, said yesterday that he would punish his subordinates
who were found guilty of asking for people's travel documents
during an identification card operation.
Soemarto made the remark after attending an installation
ceremony for new City Council members. He said there was no
regulation which stipulated that people from other cities had to
bring travel documents to enter Jakarta.
The operation, which was launched Monday, sparked a public
outcry when people holding ID cards from other cities were fined
between Rp 5,000 (US$2.08) and Rp 20,000 each. The officers in
charge of the operation asked people who were netted to present
travel documents if they were not from Jakarta.
"It's not true that people have to bring travel documents
here. I've never ordered officials to ask for them either,"
Soemarto said.
He promised to take stern action against officials, who
overacted in the operation. "I'll punish them," Soemarto said.
He said there was no need for commuters, who only work in the
city, to bring travel documents. "Their ID cards are enough, they
can come to the city anytime," Soemarto said.
He said Deputy Governor of Administrative Affairs Idroes
ordered him to evaluate the operation and to investigate whether
officials violated the regulation.
Many were critical of the way travel documents were asked for
and fines for those not having Jakarta ID cards.
Former City Council speaker M.H. Ritonga said that by asking
for travel documents from people, there would be an impression
that the capital was not safe.
On Wednesday, out of the 1,600 people checked in West
Jakarta's Kapuk subdistrict, 141 were fined for not having
Jakarta ID cards, while another 182 people were fined in a
similar operation in Palmerah, West Jakarta, on Tuesday.
The operation was scheduled to be continued Monday in Tegal
Alur subdistrict, West Jakarta, and Pademangan subdistrict, North
Jakarta.
An official of West Jakarta's population agency said the
operation in Tegal Alur would probably be 'more lucrative' since
the area was known as an ethnic Chinese area.
He believed officers would not only find people who did not
have ID cards, but others with no documentation of Indonesian
nationality as well.
A door-to-door operation in Tegal Alur and Pademangan would be
implemented, since the previous operation was considered less
effective, he said.
The chief of supervision of the City Population Agency,
Soedarsono, said he evaluated the previous operation, which was
conducted on streets by stopping passersby and passengers of
public transport.
He said officers had difficulties identifying people and their
violations when the operation took place on the streets.
Soedarsono said the target of the door-to-door operation was
no longer motorists and passengers, but residents, housemaids and
students in rented houses.
He called on house owners to open their doors to officers and
let them check IDs. (jun/ste)