Auxiliary police salary snafus

JAKARTA: More than 300 civilian police auxiliary officers (banpol) in West Jakarta did not receive their full salary from January to August this year, due to administrative errors, the city administration's official website.

Mayor Sarimun Hadisaputra admitted last week that there was a problem in the transfer of their salary due to administrative errors which took nine months to correct.

He said that from January this year, the salary was increased to Rp 750,000 a month. Earlier reports said that a civilian police assistant received Rp 350,000 in base salary and Rp 150,000 transportation allowance a month.

Despite the increase, the blue-uniformed officers still have been paid the old amount.

Sarimun claimed the full amount of the salary could not be transferred in time because it was not until August that Governor Sutiyoso approved the salary hike, beritajakarta.com reported.

Sarimun extended last Tuesday the working contract for 316 civilians police officers for another year, saying they were still needed to enforce security and order.

The city administration, which is notorious for its repressive action against informal traders and squatters, last month hired almost 2,000 civilian police auxiliary men for a one-year contract. They are armed with handcuffs, a flashlight, a knife and a rubber club. Some are also equipped with tear-gas pistols.--JP