Jakarta Police to use GPS in patrol cars: Makbul

Jakarta Police to use GPS in patrol cars: Makbul

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara revealed on
Thursday that the police would set up a new patrolling
infrastructure using a Global Positioning System, which should
enable them to monitor the position of every patrol car.

"We expect to start operating the new system next month," said
the two-star police general at The Jakarta Post editorial office
on Thursday.

He pointed out that the police had equipped some 500 vehicles
with around 3,000 police personnel to cover Jakarta, Tangerang,
Bekasi and Depok.

He added that the city administration had promised to provide
Rp 7.5 billion to help support the project. Some 300 cars, thus
far, are ready, after the administration allocated public funds.

Makbul said the plan was realized amid mounting public concern
over police performance. "We admit that our performance has
fallen short of the public expectation that police officers are
supposed to be present and available anywhere and anytime needed
so that society will feel safe," he said.

He blamed a significant gap in ratio between police personnel
and Jakarta residents as one of the problems.

Ideally, Makbul said, one officer covers 400 people, but in
practice here, the total of 21,000 staff members of the Jakarta
police office had to handle 18 million residents -- a 1 to 900
ratio -- in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi.
Meanwhile, data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in
2000, shows the total residents of Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang,
Depok, and Bekasi areas are only 12.7 million.

But he said that not all of the 21,000 police personnel could
be tasked to secure the city as thousands of them were civilian
staff.

Through the sophisticated technology and infrastructure in
patrolling, Makbul said, police expected the areas of operation
for criminals would be greatly limited and the city should be
safer.

Makbul has been at his post since late last year after
replacing Comr. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb who led the Jakarta Police for
about seven months. Sofjan is now a senior instructor at the
National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas). Makbul was previously
the Jakarta police deputy chief.

Amid massive numbers of demonstrations and rallies in the
capital, Makbul said that such demonstrations should not turn
violent if the police handle them with care.

"Instead of seeing the rallies as a threat, we hope massive
numbers of demonstrations here can be one of tourist
attractions," he joked, promising that police would not impose
repressive policies on the demonstrators.

He revealed that in many cases, many demonstrators failed to
inform their the police of their action in reference to the law.
According to the law enacted on Oct. 26, 1998 art. No.9 in the
tenure of President B.J. Habibie, people wishing to launch a
protest should submit a letter first to the police three days
before the planned protest.

"But, as we've promised to serve them, we will approach them
with open communication as we are all in the learning process
toward more democratic society," he said.

Stern action, however, would certainly be imposed by the
police should the demonstrators turn violent, he asserted.

Makbul said, police would also prioritize drug-related
offenses, white collar crimes, corruption and street crimes.

"We will vow to wage war especially against drug abuse on
April, 28 in Monas (National Monument)," he said.

He mentioned all public concerns except the terrorism threat.

He brushed aside allegations that terrorism might threaten the
capital, claiming that his personnel thus far could ensure the
security and order in the capital.

However, Makbul admitted that police had to cope with any
terrorist threats using existing legal grounds as the law on
antiterrorism was still in the process of being drafted.

Contrary to his claim of Jakarta's security, an international
meeting in preparation for the World Summit, which was previously
scheduled for Jakarta, has been moved to Bali citing to security
concerns. The meeting will be held next month.