City beefs up security fearing gang war

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two days after the fatal shooting of a gang member by a public order officer, the city administration mobilized its full forces on Friday to anticipate a possible retaliatory attack.

"I don't want my men to die because they are not prepared for a possible gangster ambush," City Public Order Agency head Soebagio, who is a retired military officer, said.

Soebagio said he has briefed half of his 5,000-strong group of officials earlier in the day and told them to patrol only in groups of four and to arm themselves with batons and daggers.

The officers were still at their posts at the National Monument (Monas) park and along the city's thoroughfares on Friday, but in greater numbers, he said.

The victim, John Albert, 39, died on Thursday after being shot on Wednesday afternoon while guarding a plot of land on Jl. HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, where some 100 public order officers were deployed to help watch over the fencing of another site nearby.

The victim is said to be a member of a gang led by Hercules, a gang leader who has made his name in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

While police have detained the alleged gunman, Krisman Siregar, many in the administration said they were still afraid to walk the streets.

The fear had increased after two minivans belonging to the city's forestry monitoring unit were vandalized by an unidentified men.

"I also received information that the gang carried out a sweep to look for city public order officers in city streets last (Thursday) night," Soebagio said.

He had asked police to help safeguard City Hall but Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono played down the danger of an attack, saying there was no need to deploy special troops there.

"We don't want the public to get carried away by provoking statements, which may spark more violence," he said.

Meanwhile, city police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said he had contacted Hercules by phone to persuade him to leave the case to the police.

Hercules could not be reached by The Jakarta Post for comment.

No city officials were able to confirm the reason for the presence of hundreds of unidentified men dressed in black in City Hall corridors since Thursday, however, the men said they were guarding the compound.

While asserting that he would not tolerate a reign of thuggery in the capital, Governor Sutiyoso appeared to explain why he had let these unidentified men into his office.

"One must be able to distinguish between good gang members and bad gang members," he said.