Impolite policeman

Impolite policeman

From Kompas

On the afternoon of Feb. 16, after my office, located on Jl.
Damai, Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, was closed, my two friends and I
decided to go home by bajaj (three-wheel motorized pedicab) using
an alternative road because the main road to our home in Grogol
was inundated by the flood.

Near Citraland, the bajaj was suddenly stopped by policemen
from the Tanjung Duren sector. They checked the vehicle papers.

While we were waiting for the checking process to be
completed, one of the policeman (initials MK) approached us. He
said rudely: "Hey you, do you have an ID cards or not?"

One of my friends was so surprised that she could not help
smiling. Seeing my friend smiling, the policeman became angry and
asked: "Why are you laughing? Do you have an ID card or not?"

After our problem with the ID cards was over, it turned out
that the policemen had not finished checking the bajaj papers. We
finally decided to pay the bajaj fare and walk home. As we got
off the bajaj, we overheard one of policemen saying: "Hey, you
need to deposit some money as a guarantee. What's the use of your
ID card? It's useless."

Fortunately, one of the policemen was kind enough to let the
bajaj go and take us home.

The behavior of the policemen toward us and the bajaj driver
seemed far from the attitude which must be maintained by the
police, who have the duty to protect the people. During the
checking procedure, the three of us felt nothing but insulted.

Name and address withheld

by the Editor