Hindarto's idea on public order violators opposed

JAKARTA (JP): City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga opposes a proposal suggesting that violators of public order regulations be ostracized from society.

"I think it is not proper to impose such a penalty on violators as it is against their human rights. Such a violation is not identical to a crime," Ritonga told reporters yesterday.

Ritonga feels that it is more important to give people a chance not to violate public order rules by publicizing the rules more aggressively.

He explained that it is more appropriate to further enforce the regulations in order to make people aware of the fact that they are likely to be punished.

"People tend to disregard regulation if there is no enforcement," he said.

The City Police chief, Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto, proposed over the weekend that anyone found to breach a public rule be ostracized from society. He said it will be more effective than legal penalties.

Hindarto said city official should not hesitate in asking the identities and addresses of citizens who threw garbage at will because they are violating municipal rule No 5. He said the officials should then report these cases to the people in charge of mosques or other places of worship near the citizens' houses.

The names of the citizens could then be announced during public gatherings held there, Hindarto said.

He argued that such a penalty would deter them from repeating their wrongdoings in the future.

Commenting on the fact that the facilities to support the regulations are not adequate, Ritonga, who was a former City Police chief from 1989 to 1992, said that this is also one of the many things that could trigger a violation.

He said sometimes people are "forced" to violate existing rules. "For example they want to dump garbage, but there is no garbage can around so they just throw it anywhere," Ritonga said.

Therefore, he added, the city administration should increase the number of facilities that could support the regulations.(yns)