City pledges all out war on vagrants, beggars

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso declared war yesterday on vagrants, beggars, transvestites and "three-in-one" kids who, he said, hindered the city's development.

The newly appointed governor ordered all his subordinates to cooperate with related bodies, including City Police, to take stern action against the groups but ensure they were given a better chance to improve their life.

"Jakarta has become an international city. It's our duty to make the city friendly and secure for everyone.

"I believe the existence of those kinds of people has more of a negative effect than a positive effect," Sutiyoso told city officials during a meeting at City Hall yesterday.

The three-in-one kids or "jockeys", for instance, have been widely blamed for the failure of the three-in-one traffic regulation, he said.

"If there were no jockeys, the law would have greatly reduced traffic congestion in Jakarta.

"But due to their presence and the increasing demand of motorists for their service, the three-in-one concept has failed to reach its target."

The jockeys, mostly youngsters and housewives, are paid by motorists to become the second and/or third passenger in a car so the driver can access restricted three-in-one areas during rush hours.

Yesterday's meeting was attended by the city's high-ranking officials, including those from the public order office and land transportation, public works and social welfare agencies.

Sutiyoso also cited the growing number of transvestites who were begging for money from motorists by singing at city intersections and traffic lights.

"One of them once approached my car. He sang and then asked for money. I gave him money, not because I wanted to give it freely, but because I was afraid he would scratch my car with his nails," the former Jakarta military commander said.

"This kind of thing happens in Jakarta," he said. "And as a metropolitan city, Jakarta can no longer tolerate this.

"We are visited by many foreign people. Is the city safe for everybody? It's time for us to improve Jakarta's performance and image."

Sutiyoso promised to provide better facilities for the groups he was targeting if they tried to earn a decent living and offered a service that was useful to society, such as becoming a vendor.

By doing so, people will be able to raise their own dignity, he said.

During the meeting, Sutiyoso also pledged to crack down on city officials in line with the National Disciplinary Movement.

"I've learned that many officials come to work late.

"We also haven't had a good system of discipline." he said. "Queuing is just one example. We never learn how to stand in line, wait for our turn.

"You cannot get special treatment all the time just because you are, for instance, a high-ranking official," he warned his subordinates.

The governor also urged city officials to stop commercializing their position and he cited, as an example, the arduous procedures for processing a document.

"We are the servants of the citizens," he said. "So we have to upgrade our service to the public and not ask money in return for doing it."

He also urged officials to cut the bureaucratic red tape.

"We make the rules. So, we can change them in the interest of the people. By cutting the arduous bureaucracy, we can speed up administrative processes and create a professional service."

Sutiyoso also pledged to seek more funds from wealthy Jakartans to continue the city's regreening campaign.

"Let's empty their pockets to create a better city environment," he said, and the officials responded with a round of applause.

He also revealed his commitment to regreening the capital.

"I wonder why people here seem to have a lack of awareness about regreening their own yard," he said, adding that the program would restart in the wet season.

"People's awareness about planting trees must include the average person and the giant developers," he said.

"When an area as big as Plaza Senayan (in Central Jakarta) is left bare, without any sufficient trees or green areas, what are (the owners of the building) thinking about?" the two-star general said. (07)