Jakartans armed but fearful amid terrifying crime wave

JAKARTA (JP): The mounting incidence of random violence and crime has struck fear into ordinary Jakartans, stirring up palpable tension as people come up against fiercer and bolder criminals.

Many of those interviewed by The Jakarta Post expressed alarm at the situation and hoped for a return to a safer environment. And many have armed themselves against security threats.

Mirna A. Basalamah, public relations manager of Mercure Hotel Hayam Wuruk, Jakarta: Sometimes I feel scared about the rising occurrence of crime, especially on the streets. But I always surrender my faith to Allah the Almighty.

I often pray and recite the name of Allah while driving. I bring tasbih (Muslim rosary) in my purse. It makes me feel more comfortable.

But I also put tear gas spray in my purse before leaving the house. It's only for self-defense. I got it from a friend of mine in the United States.

My work means I have to travel a lot, sometimes out of town. I always try to be kind to the children who stand at intersections, directing traffic.

Once, my car was scratched by a boy in Jatinegara, East Jakarta. The boy thought I had not given him money, but I had given it to his friend.

Kurnianto, 34, marketing executive of a pharmaceutical company: These days, I call my wife's office at least three times a day. The first call is to make sure she has arrived safely at the office, the second is to make sure she is not going out of the office for the whole day and the last is to let her know what time I will pick her up.

With the soaring number of street crimes recently, I really want to drive my wife to the office on my own, but her schedule is completely different from mine. She does not have to arrive at the office in the morning like me. Fortunately, she does not have to go back to the office at night on her own.

A friend of mine in the office was robbed by several people on his way home. Thankfully, he was not hurt, but the robbers took all his money, including his credit cards and ATM cards, the car's tape player, his cell phone and even his wedding ring. I do not want it to happen to me and my wife, so I ask my wife not to wear any jewelry or carry lots of cash. We also try not to get home very late at night.

Harry Indrawan, 32, a state bank employee: What I fear most these days is that we can no longer depend on police protection. Crimes happen everywhere. Each day, there is a report of this or that robbery. It seems like nothing can stop the crime.

And the great number of reports about taxi robberies makes me more afraid because I use a taxi to and from the office frequently.

Now, I never carry much cash in my wallet. I only bring Rp 50,000 at the most. I also leave all my ATM and credit cards at home. I do keep money at the office for important things, but I never take it with me.

I am thinking of buying my wife and I protection kits, maybe a small one, like the one advertised in a newspaper. If I am not mistaken, it's tear gas in a can that looks like a key holder. But I have not made up my mind yet.

But, I really wish that I would not need to carry such self- protection kits. I hope everything can go back to normal again like before.

Uke H. Arivianti, an employee of Indo Pacific public relations: I have never worn jewelry, such as bracelets and necklaces, since last year. I only wear a wristwatch when I go to work. I try to avoid streets in what I consider crime-prone areas. Still, recent reports on crime scare me.

I never behave rudely to boys who direct traffic at intersections although I do not always give them money.

I always make sure that my car door is locked when I'm driving. I also use the seat belt.

For my own safety, I always carry tear gas spray in my purse. I bought it from a friend for Rp 125,000. But I hope I will never have to use it. My friend once tested her tear gas in her yard, but the smell made her nauseous for almost three days.

Parveen Gandhi, an Indian expatriate who has lived in Indonesia for eight years: This country was very safe until recently, but I think people's fears mostly come from reading the papers and watching the news.

To me, it's not as bad as it sounds. I come from a country where this type of thing is very common.

Up to now, I still do not feel the need to carry any self- defense gear and neither does my family. I've had a security guard for my house during the eight years I've lived here.

But I do take precautions, such as staying away from late- night parties and going out at night and taking streets that have less traffic now.

Corrie Wawolumaya, 58, lecturer at the University of Indonesia School of Medicine: I think Jakarta is no longer safe.

Once, I felt terribly panicked when my car was trapped close to a student brawl on a toll road on Jl. Ahmad Yani, East Jakarta. Can you imagine? Students brawling on the toll road? It's true my car is insured, but if they throw stones or, even worse, burn my car, what am I supposed to do? Where should I run?

And after learning of the high incidence of crime at intersections, I tell my driver to always slow down whenever the traffic light turns red so the car does not stop there. But, as a preventive measure, I prepare small change in case they (street people) ask for money.

But I have not bought myself protection kits, such as tear gas, as advised by my friends. I am a nervous person. I do not think I will be able to use the protection kit if someone tries to harm me. I will just pray.

Theodora Partono, a secretary of the newly published Realitas Tabloid: Now I have to arm myself with pepper spray after being mugged on a public bus in August.

At that time, I was approached by two men and they suddenly grabbed my necklace. The incident took place in Cideng, West Jakarta.

The incident forced me to buy the protection device from a friend for Rp 50,000 and, since then, I never wear jewelry while traveling.

If firearms were not illegal, I'd rather buy a gun than a pepper spray ... I feel that Jakarta is no longer a safe place to live.

Sumarno (not his real name), a Blue Bird taxi driver: I am now selecting my passengers as a precaution.

Usually I avoid African people because they give us counterfeit notes. They would give new bank notes of Rp 10,000 or Rp 20,000 to pay for the taxi, but they always turned out to be fake.

I also try to observe my prospective passengers. There are people who try to rob us, taxi drivers, because some of us are driving new cars. The newest Blue Bird fleet now uses Mazda cars, which are relatively new in appearance. I heard that the stolen cars are immediately painted different colors and their plate numbers replaced.

Passengers who may turn out to be criminals are usually quiet in nature. If they get in the taxi in a group, they rarely speak to each other. It increases my suspicion.

But it's very difficult to distinguish the real passengers and the criminals. If I happened to get a suspicious group in my taxi and they showed threatening gestures, I would stop my cab and respectfully ask them to get out.

Ridho, a senior high school teacher who has lived in Jakarta for 20 years: I had to make hard decision before leaving the city to celebrate the Idul Fitri holiday together with my parents and my eight brothers and sisters in my hometown in Kuningan, West Java.

It's been a routine event for me. But this year it's different. Rioting, brawling, looting and arsoning, which have highlighted TV news reports, newspapers and magazines, make me scared.

It is difficult to choose between safety or a holiday in village.

Frankly, I am afraid of robbery on the way to my village. But I am also scared of looting and burglary if I leave my house unattended.

Later on, I decide to get together with my parents. The annual silaturahmi (being together with family and relatives) is the priority. If we believe in God, who will safeguard our life and death and our belongings, Insya Allah (God willing) all fear will perish.

Lina (not her real name), 38, an ethnic Chinese housewife living in Palmerah, West Jakarta: After the May riots, I have been worried almost every day. These days, firecracker explosions are already enough to make me afraid. And any rumors of new riots will make me stay at home for several days. Sometimes, I ask my husband to stay at home or even tell my children not to go to school.

For months, I have stashed away rice and dried food, like instant noodles.

It's true that all my neighbors are good to my family. But what happen if the rioters are not those in my neighborhood? What would I do if they burned my home? We're not rich. My husband is only an employee with a small salary. We do not have any other places to go. But the rioters will not understand that, I am afraid that they will only see that we are of Chinese descent.

And soon there will be the general election. I am really worried that people will turn violent at that time.

Atty, 36, an employee of the Ministry of Public Works: I know about the rising crime from TV and newspapers. But thankfully, nothing bad has happened to me. My life is still running as usual. I go to the office by public bus and return home the same way.

But I do take precautions. I never wear jewelry, only my wristwatch, dress only in my uniform and never carry cash more than necessary. Maybe my simplicity does not attract bad people to steal from me. I am really grateful of that.

S. Kanthi Andayani, 27, a Jakarta-based journalist: I protect myself with an American-made protection spray after being robbed in a minivan in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, in December.

I was robbed in broad daylight when I was on my way to a news conference in the defense ministry. It's my third mugging in the past three years.

I am so traumatized by the incidents and, up to now, I still have to alert taxi drivers to make him try to avoid red lights because of the fear of being mugged by street hawkers. And I always have my hand ready in my bag, holding the protection spray, every time I approach a traffic light.

Karyadi, 16, a street hawker selling mineral water at an intersection in Tomang, West Jakarta: I have sold mineral water here since last year. And I do see some criminals taking away side mirrors of some good cars. But I cannot do something to prevent them. It's not only that they are much bigger than me, but they are also criminals. They might hurt me.

But those criminals have reduced my income. Usually, people are willing to buy my mineral water, but now, people are scared even to open their window. Maybe they think that all of us want to rob them. It's not true. Some of us are really working to earn a living. And those criminals are new people and even many of us, who work here every day, do not know them.

Diah Rahayu, 32, a secretary and a housewife living in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta: The increasing crime rate really makes me scared. Even at home I no longer feel safe, afraid burglars will rob my house.

During the Idul Fitri holiday, before leaving for Bandung with my family to celebrate the event with my parents, I left all my valuables at my brother-in-law's house. These valuables included jewelry, TV sets, the sound system and many other items.

But, when I was already in Bandung, I still kept thinking and worrying about them. I kept asking myself, what happens if my brother-in-law's house is the one which is robbed? The robbers will certainly take away my belongings too, right? I felt so restless that I made my husband worried, too. So all of us left Bandung two days before our vacation days were over. And it turned out that everything was all right. (team)