City seeking approval of stern security measures

JAKARTA (JP): City authorities called on Friday for City Council to issue a decree that will grant security agencies the authority to take stern action against rioters and criminals during the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next month.

"Written approval is needed to protect security officers from legal sanctions over their implementation of stern security measures against rioters and other law violators," Governor Sutiyoso told reporters after a coordinating meeting of city authorities at City Hall.

"Law enforcers have been uncertain lately when they had to take strong action against rioters. They feared the possibility of strong protests from residents," he said.

The governor said the council's formal approval would help ease the security personnel while performing their duties on the streets.

Present at the meeting were Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and Chief of Naval Main Base Commodore Djuhana Suwarna.

Nurfaizi, who shared the same media conference with Sutiyoso, said the police would focus on security precautions in the capital ahead of the General Session.

"We can deploy up to 7,700 police officers to maintain security during the General Session," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Nurfaizi hinted that the council had granted verbal approval for security personnel to take firm actions against rioters and criminals operating on the streets.

Chief of Jakarta Police Operation Control Command Sr. Supt. Nono Suprijono said city police would deploy at least 60 percent of its total force to safeguard the annual MPR General Session next month.

"We'll deploy more officers if the situation requires. We'll discuss it further in our meeting on Monday," he said separately.

Currently, there are about 18,000 police officers in Greater Jakarta areas.

Meanwhile, Ryamizard said the military command would support the Jakarta police with reinforcement personnel whenever required.

Similarly, Djuhana said the navy would deploy reinforcements as needed.

"The number of marines to be deployed will depend on the situation and be based upon requests by city authorities," he told The Jakarta Post.

"At least, we'll deploy the marines in areas nearby the naval bases and headquarters," he said.

The coordinating meeting also discussed efforts to restore peace and order in the city.

"City administration will intensify operations to restore peace and order in the capital. We'll target street people," Sutiyoso said, while citing street vendors and illegal traffic wardens as examples.

"I strongly criticized the city's five mayors for their failure to immediately handle the street problems while they were still small in form and amount," he added.

Official data shows there are at least 195,000 people who illegally earn their living on the streets and whose operations have created insecurity and public disorder in Jakarta. They comprise street vendors, pedicab drivers, three-in-one jockeys, street children and prostitutes.

"The mayors tended to delay taking immediate actions against such irregular activities," Sutiyoso said.

"I also expect the mayors to take better care of their own areas in the future," he added.

The governor also questioned the performance of local police and military officers in upholding the laws and maintaining peace and order in the city.

"Security officers can't perform well because residents tend to retaliate to any stern actions.

"The new trend makes the officers unable to take necessary actions against massive unlawfulness," he said.

Sutiyoso said there would be another meeting on Monday to discuss detailed procedures for security operations in the capital.

"While there will always be an excess, such security operations are necessary. But, let's just focus on the security and order which is the aspiration of the public," he said.

Similarly, Nurfaizi said the security operations were helpful for establishing peace and order in the capital.

"We will back Sutiyoso's plan to restore the public order," he said, while asking residents to report any security problems in their neighborhood. (06/nvn)