Discipline drive volunteers told to avoid violence
Discipline drive volunteers told to avoid violence
JAKARTA (JP): The 15,000 volunteers fielded today in the discipline drive have no right to punish violators and must avoid violence in their actions, City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto says.
In a call for preparedness of the discipline drive, at the Senayan east parking lot on Saturday, Wiranto said that the volunteers are supposed to remind the violators in a persuasive and educative manner.
"We will take stern action against volunteers who are found violating the rules," he said. "Defiant members will be fired."
The volunteers, who come from youth organizations, will discipline jaywalkers, roadside vendors trading at improper sites, litterers and reckless motorists.
They are fielded at prone-to-violation areas like bus and railway stations, market places, intersections, bus shelters and the most busy roads, the general said.
He cited Cililitan and Cawang in East Jakarta, Blok M and Pancoran in South Jakarta, Tanah Abang, Harmony, Jl. Sudirman and Jl.Thamrin in Central Jakarta, Grogol and Slipi in West Jakarta, and Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta as the priority areas.
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Prosecutors and judges, backed up by the military and police will hold regular judicial operations during the discipline campaign. City hall officials are also involved in the judicial operation.
The two-star general encouraged the public to report any deviation in procedures, including violence, made by discipline drive enforcers to the nearest military office.
Military district heads and police precinct chiefs are responsible for the implementation of those in their respective authority, Wiranto said. "They command the day-to-day drive in the field."
Wiranto appealed to the public to cooperate with the enforcers, saying that Jakartans should be able to discipline themselves.
He reiterated that Jakarta had been chosen as the pilot project of the national discipline campaign that was launched by President Soeharto on May 20, coinciding with National Awakening Day.
The mobilization of youths wins support from the army chief of staff and city council.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono also supports the movement of the city military command.
"I will ask other provincial military commands to take such steps to make a success of the national discipline campaign," he said, Kompas reported on Saturday.
Councilors Jenni Suharso and Mohammad Banang of Commission A told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that they expected the people's participation in the discipline drive. Commission A deals with administration, security and order.
Jenni urged that the participation be enlarged to encompass other mass organizations, especially women's organizations.
Banang said that city military command must supervise the enforcers seriously to avoid any negative effects, such as quarrels or fighting between enforcers and the people.
He reminded them that the members of discipline enforcers should discipline themselves first. (29)