Hamami lauds police on duty
JAKARTA (JP): Charity did begin at home yesterday for City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata when he willingly gave Rp 150,000 (US$62.60) to 10 policemen on duty at the Senen bus terminal during his tour of inspection around the city.
None of the 10 officers, of the Police Special Force Mobile Brigade, had received their Rp 15,000 allowance since being assigned to maintain order on Feb. 1 when the Lebaran holiday exodus began.
Hamami said he was surprised to find his men had not been paid despite their working hard for the benefit of the public.
According to the City Police spokesman, Maj. Nyoman Suriasta, the allowance budget for all officers assigned to security precautions during the holidays came from President Soeharto and Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto.
"The allowance should have been given to each officer directly from their police precincts chiefs, and on the very first day of their assignment," Nyoman said.
He said more than 200 personnel had been deployed at bus terminals and railway stations to maintain public order; 30 at Gambir, 72 at Senen, 98 at Pulo Gadung, and 172 at Kampung Rambutan.
Hamami visited the four terminals; Gambir railway station and Senen bus station in Central Jakarta and the Pulo Gadung and Kampung Rambutan terminals in East Jakarta.
Motivation
Hamami said the tour of inspection was to boosting the spirit and motivation of his officers in anticipation of the influx of people returning to Jakarta.
"The good cooperation between all personnel involved in the operation has resulted in a decrease in the crime rate by 10 percent," he said.
The two-star police general yesterday also donated boxes of instant noodles, canned food and soft drinks to the policemen on duty and chatted with passengers still waiting for buses to take them home.
According to Kampung Rambutan station data, around 300,000 people have departed from the station since Jan. 31.
Just as Hamami and his entourage were leaving Kampung Rambutan an accident occurred right in front of them. A mini-van hit the median strip near the exit gate of Taman Mini Indonesia Park on the Jagorawi toll road.
The driver of the Suzuki Carry mini-van, who was speeding, lost control of his car after one of its rear wheels burst, causing the van to roll before hitting the median strip, witnesses said.
The driver, Sopian, suffered minor injuries, but two of his eight passengers were seriously injured and were rushed to the Indonesian Christian University's hospital in Cililitan, East Jakarta.
They were on their way to Ancol Dreamland Park, North Jakarta, to enjoy the Lebaran holiday. (04)