Hendro warns of security threats

Hendro warns of security threats

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. AM
Hendropriyono warned Jakartans that ethnic and religious
differences and economic disparities remain a potential threat to
stability in the city.

"Recent incidents, such as mass brawls among students and
citizens, are the reasons why the Jakarta military command
launched Operation Cleansing," said the two-star general in a
speech, written by Brig. Gen. Wiranto.

Wiranto, the Chief of Staff of Jakarta military command, first
made the statement during the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's
birthday at military headquarters in Cililitan, East Jakarta,
yesterday.

The military-sponsored Operation Cleansing was launched in
April to check the escalating crime rates in the city and the
surrounding area.

So far, the operation teams have seized over 600,000 bottles
of alcoholic beverages along with 14 guns, 440 sharp weapons,
over three million pills worth of illegal drugs and a large
quantity of heroin.

Prior to the campaign, an Army brigadier general was stabbed
and killed by a number of drunken men in Cipinang, East Jakarta,
after an altercation.

Hendro, as the general likes to be called, said yesterday that
the ownership of drugs, spirits, guns and other sharp weapons as
well as the business of prostitution, were other potential
threats to stability in the city.

He called on the public to adhere to a religious life in a bid
to deal with threats to security.

Some six hundred servicemen and their families attended
yesterday's celebration. (09)