Military 'handcuffed' by fear of rights abuse
Military 'handcuffed' by fear of rights abuse
JAKARTA (JP): The fear of being accused of violating human
rights deters security personnel from forcefully handling unrest
and acting on other crimes, a senior researcher from the state
military think tank said on Monday.
Head of the National Resilience Board (Lemhanas)
implementation research team, Budisantoso Suryosumarto, said law
enforcement measures could be construed by others as overly harsh
-- and result in huge protests condemning the actions.
The problematic situation did not mean police, soldiers and
other security personnel should do nothing to fight the city's
soaring crime wave, he added.
"Security authorities here should always show their good image
through upholding discipline and exacting stern punishment in
accordance with the law," the retired two-star Army general told
reporters after meeting with officials from the city development
planning board at City Hall.
In a situation when mobs had formed, he said, security
officers should immediately cordon off areas in anticipation of
disturbances.
"Don't wait until the crowd grows bigger," Budisantoso warned.
City residents and crime victims have complained that security
officers were absent or tardy in responding to the spate of riots
accompanied by assaults, looting and arson which have stunned the
capital since last May.
Conspicuously untouched were properties and shopping centers
with tanks and military personnel in their compounds.
Budisantoso believed the unrest and spate of crimes were
fomented by "certain parties" bent on tarnishing the authorities'
image.
As with other government officials, he refused to name the
parties or specify their overall agenda.
"To counter the threats, the Jakarta administration and its
security officials should seriously handle any crimes based on
the law," he said.
Jakartans, like fellow city dwellers across the country, have
been subjected to months of anxiety, marked by toll road holdups,
rampant robberies, communal clashes and citizens taking the law
into their own hands to lynch suspected criminals.
Security personnel have been accused of being powerless or
indifferent to stopping the crimes.
Few days before the Idul Fitri holiday, hundreds of kiosks at
the usually busy Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta were
abruptly closed by owners fearful of hoodlums incensed that their
demands for money were rejected.
Many Jakartans heading out of town for the holiday entrusted
their valuables to neighbors and friends due to the fear of
burglary of their unoccupied homes.
Early on Sunday, a group of youths damaged two cars and set
fire to a motorcycle at Mal Kelapa Gading shopping center in
North Jakarta after being reprimanded by a mall security guard
for racing their motorbikes in the area. (ind)