Military to help city fight street crime
Military to help city fight street crime
JAKARTA (JP): The Greater Jakarta military commander, Maj.
Gen. Sutiyoso, said yesterday that he is ready to back up
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja in battling hoodlums.
Sutiyoso said that troops could be sent wherever and whenever
they were needed to combat the hoodlums, whose activities have
reached an "intolerable level."
"They have disturbed public order. That must be curbed
properly," he said yesterday after inaugurating the Armed Forces
Rural Civic Program in North Jakarta.
He asked people to report to the military command if they ever
saw hoodlums in action in their area. Public participation is
needed to help reduce crimes committed by the hoodlums, the
general stressed.
"Just name the criminals, we will catch them," Sutiyoso said.
Governor Surjadi has asked Jakartans to be brave and fight
criminals and hoodlums.
"Unfortunately, the people do not seem to be uniting to combat
criminals. People should campaign hand in hand to tackle them,"
Surjadi said when inaugurating the city public order officers on
Friday.
An antique trader was stabbed to death by three drunk men on
Jl. Kali Baru, Senen district, Central Jakarta on Saturday. The
victim, Dadang Iskandar, was stabbed after he refused to give
money to the men, who are known as notorious hoodlums in the
area.
Such lawbreakers operate in public places in the city,
including shopping centers, railway stations and bus terminals.
On Monday, Police shot to death a hoodlum in Kampung Rambutan
bus terminal. The hoodlum, identified as Roy Manulang, often
asked drivers and passengers for money.
Massive crackdowns against hoodlums and street criminals were
conducted by police and troops following the killing of a police
officer in the Blok M area shopping center last year.
Hundreds of people were arrested, but released after being
taught military discipline and practical skills, in the hope that
they could get a job for their future. Many of them have,
however, returned to the street. (jun)