Military rejects security fee

TANGERANG (JP): Local military chief Lt. Col. Meris Wiryadi has rejected residents' plans to collect money for officers overseeing security in residential areas following riots earlier this month.

"We won't tolerate the plan to charge people money to be given to security personnel because safeguarding neighborhoods is the responsibility of both the military and citizens," he said. the weekend.

Meris was responding to reports that some neighborhood chiefs in Tangerang had charged residents a "security fee". In Bumi Pesanggrahan Mas, Ciledug, residents were required to pay between Rp 10,000 and Rp 100,000, Antara reported.

The scheme has met strong opposition from many residents. They argue that it is the military's and police's jobs to oversee security.

"We will stop the plan as soon as possible before it develops into a large-scale controversy," he said.

Ciledug was one of the worst-hit areas in Tangerang where mobs burned and looted hundreds of shops in uncontrollable rioting from May 13 through May 15. (pan)