Jakartans armed but fearful amid terrifying crime wave

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)