Military rejects security fee

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)