Military raids nab wayward soldiers

Military raids nab wayward soldiers

JAKARTA (JP): About 80 disobedient military officers are
netted each month during routine raids against personnel
around the city, an officer said yesterday.

Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said
officers had been busted for violating regulations, ranging from
hanging around at entertainment centers or nightspots without an
official assignment, violating traffic rules and dressing
carelessly.

"About 20 to 25 percent of the officers were netted at various
nightspots," he told The Jakarta Post.

"I'd say that the number of disobedient personnel can still be
considered small compared to total personnel of around 100,000 in
Greater Jakarta."

He said that the raids had been conducted at least twice a
month lately.

Nachrowi said the raids were enforcing an official telegram
from the Armed Forces Commander in 1983 which prohibited military
personnel from visiting entertainment centers, including pubs,
brothels, discotheques, massages parlors and steam baths.

The officers could enter these centers only if they had been
officially assigned to secure the premises by their commanders,
he said.

"However, we would hardly instruct our personnel to secure
those places on a regular basis," he said. "We'd assign them only
if there is a special event which needs intensive security."

Nachrowi said the violation of traffic regulations also caused
the downfall of some officers.

"Some of them don't wear helmets, while some others don't have
driving licenses."

In a related development, Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Rovik
Mukav said over the weekend that violations of traffic
regulations were the most common misconduct within the Armed
Forces.

"About 148 of the violation cases are related to traffic
regulation," he said without providing further details.

Rovik said that around 400 Armed Forces personnel had been
sanctioned between April and July this year for violating various
procedures and regulations.

Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto yesterday said
that the lack of discipline among many officers was the reason
behind their imperfect performance.

Wiranto said more efforts were still needed to improve the
officers' conduct.

"Stronger action is needed in the monitoring and evaluation of
the degree of discipline, as well as giving sanctions to those
who have violated the rules," he said.

Robik said that the Armed Forces would continue to be strict
with personnel.

"Law enforcement within the Armed Forces is serious," Robik
said. "People should believe that all personnel who violate
regulations will be properly punished." (cst)