Discipline movement hits Jakarta streets

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has urged members of the National Discipline Movement to act responsibly as they carry out their public-order tasks.

Sutiyoso asked them Monday to make themselves role models for the public and not to overact.

"Start to discipline yourselves, because being an example is a way of making people more disciplined," he said.

He was talking to 1,550 cadres, wearing the movement's orange waistcoats and hats, at a rally at City Hall to mark the start of the movement's promotional activities.

The movement was launched by President Soeharto in 1995 to encourage people to observe basic public-order discipline, such as queuing, putting litter in garbage cans, and being punctual.

The movement's members are representatives of 15 social political and youth organizations and six city agencies.

The promotional operation will be conducted on Monday mornings and afternoons from October until December.

The movement's members will be posted at areas considered prone to public-order violations.

These areas are from Jl. Jenderal Sudirman and Jl. Lt. Gen. Suprapto to the Proyek Senen area in Central Jakarta, and from Jl. Matraman Raya in East Jakarta to Tugu Pak Tani in Central Jakarta.

Also to be monitored are the areas from Jl. Cut Meutia to Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta; from Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan to Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta; and Jl. Rasuna Said to Jl. H.O.S Tjokroaminoto in Central Jakarta.

Members' duties will include urging and motivating pedestrians to walk or cross streets in the proper places.

They will also encourage bus drivers to obey traffic rules and passengers to wait for, and get out of, public transportation at bus shelters. (07/05)